Incident Overview
On March 11, 2023, Makel Williams entered the Power 66 gas station at 1509 E. 12th Street in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City, Missouri, while an armed robbery was already underway inside. Two suspects, Tyrese Wesson and Kelzay Mims, were robbing another person near the entrance when Williams came through the front door.
According to the lawsuit and court records, the two suspects shot Williams in the face through the glass doors as he entered the Conoco-branded gas station. Williams was transported to an area hospital, where he died days later from his injuries.
Williams was an uninvolved bystander who walked into the gas station during an active robbery. He was not the target of the robbery and had no connection to the criminal activity taking place inside the store.
On February 26, 2026, Williams' mother, Tiffany Jefferson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court alleging that the gas station's owners failed to protect customers despite an extensive history of violent crime at the location spanning more than a decade.
Remembering Makel Williams
Makel Williams was an innocent bystander whose life was cut short when he walked into a gas station during an active robbery. He was not involved in the criminal activity and had no way of knowing what awaited him on the other side of the door. His mother, Tiffany Jefferson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit nearly three years after his death, seeking justice and accountability from the property owners she alleges failed to implement basic security measures despite years of documented violent crime at the location.
Both Suspects Convicted & Sentenced
Both suspects in the robbery and fatal shooting have been convicted and sentenced:
Kelzay Mims pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action on December 16, 2024. Sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Tyrese Wesson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action on January 31, 2025. Sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In addition to the criminal convictions, the wrongful death lawsuit names both Wesson and Mims as defendants alongside the gas station's owners.
Location & Context
The Power 66 gas station is a Conoco-branded fuel station located at 1509 E. 12th Street in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City, Missouri. According to the wrongful death lawsuit, this location has a documented history of violent criminal activity dating back to at least 2008, including multiple armed robberies, shootings, and weapons-related disturbances.
The lawsuit documents dozens of prior incidents at this specific address over a period spanning more than a decade. The plaintiff's attorneys characterize this pattern as establishing that the fatal shooting of Makel Williams was a "highly foreseeable" attack given the location's well-documented criminal history.
KCTV5 reported that it reached out to ConocoPhillips (the fuel brand) and AKI-1509 (the owner entity) for comment. No response was reported as of the March 1, 2026 publication date.
Property Details
Property Type: Conoco-branded gas station and convenience store in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City
Criminal History: Documented history of violent criminal activity dating back to at least 2008, including multiple armed robberies, shootings, and weapons-related disturbances.
Ownership: Owned/operated by AKI-1509 LLC, AKI LLC, and 786 Enterprises Inc.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Details
Filed: February 26, 2026, in Jackson County Circuit Court
Plaintiff: Tiffany Jefferson, mother of Makel Williams
Defendants: AKI-1509 LLC, AKI LLC, 786 Enterprises Inc., Tyrese Wesson, and Kelzay Mims
Damages Sought: Over $25,000, including funeral and medical expenses, economic loss, and loss of companionship, guidance, and support
Kansas City Gas Station Safety Crisis
New Safety Ordinances: In January 2026, a shooting at a gas station at 31st Street and Brooklyn Avenue (off Highway 71) injured three people and prompted Kansas City officials to draft two new ordinances addressing gas station safety, alcohol sales, and nuisance businesses.
City-Wide Crackdown: In November 2025, Kansas City began exploring a broader crackdown on nuisance businesses, with gas stations and parking lots identified as recurring problem locations for violent crime.
Public Safety Response: Kansas City's Director of Public Safety Lace Cline specifically cited gas station shootings as the impetus for regulatory action, stating the city is working to "better regulate places where people congregate."
Nuisance Ordinance Amended: The city reduced the number of incidents required to qualify as a chronic nuisance within 180 days from seven to five, and property owners now have ten days to develop an abatement plan for violent offenses.
Timeline of Events
Dozens of documented violent incidents at Power 66, including armed robberies, shootings, and weapons disturbances (per lawsuit)
Makel Williams shot in the face through the glass doors during an armed robbery at Power 66; transported to hospital in critical condition
Makel Williams dies at an area hospital from his injuries
Kelzay Mims pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action; sentenced to 15 years
Tyrese Wesson pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action; sentenced to 15 years
Tiffany Jefferson files wrongful death lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court against gas station owners and both shooters
Gas Station Security Standards
Gas stations and convenience stores face particular security challenges due to factors such as cash handling, extended operating hours, open access to parking areas, and high volumes of transient customers. For locations with a documented history of violent crime, industry security experts and law enforcement agencies recommend significantly enhanced security measures. The Power 66 gas station lawsuit specifically highlights the gap between the security measures that were in place and the measures the plaintiff argues should have been implemented given the property's extensive criminal history.
Security Cameras
Security cameras were present at Power 66. (In place at time of incident)
Thick Protective Glass Shielding Clerks Only
Bulletproof protective glass was installed to shield clerks, but not customers or entryways. (In place at time of incident)
Security Personnel
Gas stations with a history of violent crime should employ security guards, particularly during high-risk hours. Trained security presence serves as both a deterrent and provides the ability to intervene before situations escalate to violence.
Bulletproof Barriers
For high-crime-history locations, bulletproof barriers should extend beyond clerk areas to protect customers and entryways. At Power 66, protective glass shielded only clerks while customers and entry doors were left unprotected.
Controlled Entry Systems
Buzzer-entry systems and locked doors that require employee verification before granting entry can prevent armed individuals from freely accessing the store, particularly at high-crime locations or during high-risk hours.
Panic Buttons & Emergency Protocols
Silent alarm systems that allow employees to discreetly alert authorities during emergencies, along with clear protocols for immediately contacting police when armed or masked individuals enter the premises.
Active Surveillance Monitoring
While security cameras were present at Power 66, industry standards for high-crime-history gas stations call for active real-time monitoring of feeds, not just passive recording. Remote monitoring with immediate dispatch capability significantly reduces response times.
Adequate Lighting & Sightlines
Well-lit premises inside and outside, with unobstructed sightlines between the clerk area and all entry points. Proper lighting and store layout serve as natural deterrents and help staff identify potential threats before they enter the premises.
Potential Negligent Security Considerations
Under Missouri law, property owners must keep their premises in reasonably safe and secure conditions. When evaluating negligent security claims, courts examine whether the property owner knew or should have known about security risks and whether reasonable measures were implemented to address foreseeable dangers. The existence of dozens of prior violent incidents over more than a decade at a single location is a significant factor in establishing foreseeability.
Several factors may warrant examination regarding this incident:
1 Extensive Prior Criminal History
The lawsuit documents dozens of incidents at Power 66 dating back to at least 2008, including multiple armed robberies, shootings, and weapons-related disturbances. This extensive documented history may establish that the property owners had clear notice that violent crime was foreseeable at this specific location, creating a duty to implement enhanced security measures.
2 Absence of Security Personnel
Despite more than a decade of documented violent crime, the gas station did not employ security guards. A trained security presence could have detected the armed, masked suspects before they had the opportunity to initiate the robbery and could have prevented Williams from entering during an active robbery.
3 Selective Protective Barriers
Bulletproof protective glass was installed to shield clerks, indicating the owners recognized the threat of gun violence at this location. However, no such protection was extended to customers or entryways. Williams was shot through the glass doors—the very barrier that could have saved his life had it been reinforced.
4 No Access Control
The gas station had no controlled entry system. Two visibly armed suspects wearing face coverings entered and remained in the store without triggering any security response. A buzzer-entry system, security vestibule, or controlled access could have prevented armed individuals from freely entering the premises.
5 Failure to Alert Police
The lawsuit alleges there was no protocol to immediately contact police when a masked individual armed with an AK-47 entered the store. Staff behind protective glass observed the robbery in progress but did not initiate an immediate police response, which could have prevented Williams from walking into an active crime scene.
6 No Visible Deterrence
Beyond security cameras, the gas station lacked visible deterrence measures such as security signage, barriers, or controlled entry that might have discouraged criminal activity. Industry standards for gas stations with extensive criminal histories call for multiple layers of visible deterrence to signal that criminal activity will be detected and responded to.
Missouri Premises Liability Law
Missouri's Business Premises Safety Act establishes that businesses have no duty to guard against criminal acts unless they know or have reason to know such acts are being committed or are reasonably likely to be committed on the premises. The statute also provides an affirmative defense where a business has "implemented reasonable security measures." In this case, the documented history of dozens of violent incidents over more than a decade at this specific address may establish that the property owners both knew and had reason to know that violent crime was reasonably likely to occur. Whether the two measures in place—security cameras and clerk-only protective glass—constitute "reasonable security measures" given the location's extensive history is a central question the lawsuit presents.
Named Defendants & Property Ownership
The lawsuit names three business entities as owners or operators of the Power 66 gas station: AKI-1509 LLC, AKI LLC, and 786 Enterprises Inc. The specific relationship between these entities and ConocoPhillips' role (as franchisor versus owner) are not clarified in available reporting. ConocoPhillips and AKI-1509 have not publicly responded to the lawsuit as of the date of reporting.
Elevated Risk Factors at Power 66
Gas stations are classified as high-risk commercial properties due to cash transactions, late-night operations, and unrestricted public accessibility. The Power 66 location carried additional elevated risk factors including its position in a high-crime area (West Bottoms), over a decade of documented prior violent incidents at this specific address, and open accessibility with no controlled entry or membership barriers. Kansas City's own regulatory response—drafting new gas station safety ordinances—indicates institutional recognition that gas stations in the city require enhanced security measures.
If you or a loved one was affected by a similar incident, the experienced negligent security attorneys featured on this site offer free, confidential consultations to help you understand your legal options.