A man from Kansas City faced charges for murder on Wednesday due to a deadly shooting that occurred in November, allegedly sparked by an incident of road rage.
Isaiah Francis, who is 21 years old, is facing charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in Jackson County court. According to allegations, shot and killed Dennis R. Griffin, aged 66, when Griffin was inside his vehicle on November 8, 2024.
Police officers from the Kansas City Police Department responded to the shooting At the intersection of 75th Street and Paseo near 6 p.m., Griffin’s green GMC Sierra pickup truck was halted within the southbound lanes of Paseo. Injured and not responsive, Griffin was taken to a nearby hospital, arriving deceased at 6:21 p.m.
According to legal papers, detectives think that Francis fired at Griffin from outside the car following their argument on the road. An eyewitness reportedly informed law enforcement that Francis was behind the wheel of a white SUV with a damaged bumper, racing recklessly among vehicles on Paseo before getting into a dispute with Griffin, who was operating the pickup truck.
According to court documents, the witness stated that Griffin veered to block Francis, after which Francis reportedly moved next to the green Sierra and fired four to five rounds into the vehicle through the driver’s-side front windshield.
The video from the surveillance cameras at the location depicts Griffin's truck obstructing Francis' SUV, followed by both vehicles stopping next to each other at the traffic signal located at 75th and Paseo, as stated in the legal papers.
Based on legal documents, Francis claims that another person in his vehicle during the event fired at Griffin from the rear left side of the SUV following an altercation between Francis and Griffin at the traffic light.
Dennis Roy Griffin was born in Mississippi and subsequently relocated to Kansas City, graduating from Central High School in 1974 as mentioned in an online-obituary. An honored U.S. Army veteran with strong ties to the Baptist faith, Griffin first held a position at an ammunition facility in Independence before transitioning to work at the KU Medical Center located in Kansas City, Kansas.
The obituary states that Griffin was remembered by his close relatives as someone fond of staying at home and dressing sharply, with a passion for the Kansas City Chiefs, classic Cadillacs, barbecues, and being around family. He leaves behind his wife, daughter, and two grandchildren, but he had lost his son earlier.
The obituary states, "Dennis was like the glue that held the family together through their moves from Kansas City, to Mississippi, to Detroit."
Francis is presently detained at the Jackson County Detention Center with a bond set at $150,000. As of Wednesday, his upcoming court date had yet to be announced.
Griffin’s death was the 131st homicide reported In Kansas City during 2025, based on information gathered by The Star.
