KC Reporter

A second Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to the illegal straw purchase of a firearm recovered at the scene of the mass shooting at Union Station during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory on Feb. 14, 2024.

Chaelyn Hendrick Groves, 20, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of conspiracy to make false statements in the acquisition of a firearm. Co-defendant Ronnel Dewayne Williams, Jr., 22, pleaded guilty to the same charge on Wednesday, July 31.

Both Groves and Williams admitted they participated in the criminal conspiracy from Nov. 25, 2023, to Feb. 21, 2024. Williams made false statements to a licensed firearms dealer on Nov. 25, 2023, claiming he was the actual buyer of a Stag Arms lower receiver, which was intended to deceive the dealer into making the sale to Williams. Firearm receivers house the firing mechanism and other internal parts of a firearm and can be loaded and fired or built into a complete firearm by adding components.

Groves and Williams admitted that Williams was not the true buyer of the firearm but was purchasing it for Groves, who was not of lawful age to purchase it himself. Williams provided the firearm to Groves on the same day as the purchase. Groves then obtained a 300-blackout barrel and affixed it to the Stag Arms lower receiver.

Law enforcement officers recovered the firearm on Feb. 14, 2024, in Kansas City following the mass shooting incident.

Groves and Williams also admitted that between Feb. 16 and Feb. 21, they provided materially false statements to federal law enforcement officers regarding the acquisition and disposition of the Stag Arms lower receiver.

Under federal statutes, Groves and Williams each face up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress for informational purposes; sentencing will be determined by the court based on advisory guidelines and other factors.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess Michaelsen and was investigated by the Kansas City Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. On May 26, 2021, PSN launched a violent crime reduction strategy based on fostering trust in communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence from occurring initially setting strategic enforcement priorities; measuring results.