Man Charged in Highway Shooting of KC Nursing Student

A tragic incident on a Kansas City highway has led to serious criminal charges against a young man, following a shooting that left a woman in critical condition. The suspect, Jamahn Tatum, 20, is now facing multiple felony charges in Jackson County Circuit Court, including first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action. These charges stem from an incident that occurred on May 4th, when 19-year-old JayLee Gross was hospitalized after being shot while assisting a friend with a flat tire.

The incident took place on U.S. 71 Highway, where officers responded just before 12:30 a.m. to reports of gunfire. They found Gross seated in the front of a Kia K5 with a single gunshot wound to her head, according to court documents.

Gross’ boyfriend, Damon Culter, provided police with a detailed account of what happened. He said they were helping a friend change a flat tire on the highway when they encountered a vehicle described as a black Ford Fusion with tinted windows. As Culter tried to merge back onto the highway, he claimed the suspect’s car passed him on the left, got in front of him, and brake-checked him.

Gross then rolled down her window and yelled at the suspect, “why the f**** did you cut us off?” before flipping them off, according to court records. Culter said he heard the suspect tell them, “go ahead and pull over,” and saw a woman in the passenger seat.

As Culter continued driving north on U.S. 71, he noticed the suspect vehicle take an exit ramp. Moments later, he heard around six gunshots and glass shattering. When he asked if Gross was okay, he discovered she was bleeding from her head and unresponsive, as per court documents.

Officers later searched the area and found 9mm shell casings, which are believed to be linked to the shooting. JayLee's father, Bradley Gross, shared an update via text on Saturday, stating that she was still in the hospital but showing small progress. "JayLee is making small progress, still critical," he said. He also expressed hope for justice in the case.

Police have been investigating the incident closely, and surveillance footage played a key role in identifying Tatum as a suspect. According to court documents, police observed a dark sedan, consistent with a Ford Fusion, driving in the area just 16 seconds after the shooting. Further investigation showed the same vehicle was seen in other locations prior to the incident. Using a license plate reader, police identified Tatum as the person involved.

Tatum was arrested on Thursday, and during a search of his residence, officers discovered a box of 9mm ammunition. In an interview with police, Tatum initially denied having a 9mm handgun or being in the area of the shooting. However, after being informed that police knew he was present, he gave a statement claiming he acted in self-defense.

According to court records, Tatum allegedly told police that Gross' vehicle nearly hit his while he was driving on the highway. He claimed that Gross' car then brake-checked him, leading him to fire shots at her vehicle as he exited the highway. Tatum also allegedly admitted to selling the gun after the shooting. When asked why he didn’t call the police if he acted in self-defense, he reportedly said he didn’t think it was that serious until he saw Gross in the hospital.

Tatum is currently held in the Jackson County jail on a $100,000 bond, according to online booking records. As of Saturday, no court date has been scheduled yet for the case. The situation remains under investigation, and authorities are working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.