A Missouri man accused of fatally shooting another driver during a road rage confrontation in Kansas City told investigators he only wanted to “fight and get an apology” after nearly being hit, police say. Jackson County prosecutors have charged 20-year-old Laken Logan with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the September 23 shooting that killed 57-year-old Cleveland Wright.
The incident occurred near NE Chouteau Trafficway and Gardner Avenue in northeast Kansas City. Court records say city surveillance cameras captured Wright driving along Chouteau Trafficway when Logan’s black Chevrolet Trax cut him off, braked hard, and sped aggressively. A woman riding with Wright told detectives they were out making grocery deliveries that evening when a speeding driver suddenly swerved in front of them on the Chouteau Bridge.
She said Wright reached for what she thought was a gun before several shots rang out. Moments later, Wright’s car struck a median as he bled heavily from gunshot wounds. The passenger described the shooter as a white man in his 20s with red hair and a goatee. Detectives used surveillance footage to identify the suspect’s vehicle as a black Chevrolet Trax SUV.
Investigators reviewed recent vehicle purchases of similar models in the area, eventually linking the SUV to Logan. Police contacted the dealership where Logan bought the Trax and learned the vehicle had a tracking device. After obtaining a search warrant, detectives discovered the SUV was in the area at the time of the shooting, as per KCTV.
On October 22, SWAT officers arrested Logan while he was inside the same vehicle. During questioning, Logan told detectives Wright had swerved into his lane, nearly hitting him. A passenger in Logan’s car also remarked on how close they came to being struck.
Logan said he turned around to follow Wright’s car because he wanted to “fight and get an apology.” He claimed that as he approached the intersection, Wright raised a handgun, prompting him to brake, grab his own weapon, and fire through the back windshield.
However, the passenger riding with Logan told investigators that although Wright’s arm was raised, he was not pointing it at them, and she could not confirm whether he had a gun. Logan remains in custody at the Jackson County Detention Center on a $750,000 cash-only bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for October 27. Online records do not list an attorney representing him.