A Lawrence man on Tuesday pleaded no contest to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2023 shooting death of 20-year-old Cameron Renner, of Topeka.
Maliqe Crenshaw, 23, had initially been charged with reckless second-degree murder. The charge stemmed from a shooting on June 3, 2023.
Police had received several calls reporting the sound of gunshots in the area of 24th Street and Cedarwood Avenue, according to a news release from the department at the time.
“Officers also proactively dispatched to the hospital and witnessed a car speeding into the Emergency Department entrance,” police said in the release. “Officers pulled a male victim from the back seat, who was later pronounced deceased by hospital personnel.”
There were three men in the car with Renner who said they don’t know his identity, according to that release. Within a few days, police were able to identify Renner with the public’s assistance. Police announced in November that “After a months-long investigation, investigators were able to tie forensic evidence to Crenshaw, leading to his arrest.”
But a defense motion in the case, seeking immunity from prosecution and arguing that Crenshaw was defending himself, alleges that Renner and his friends had threatened Crenshaw and his friends, pointing “at least one gun at the camera” during a video call shortly before the shooting, then showed up wearing masks at the apartment where Crenshaw lived and “lit and threw an explosive onto the balcony.”
Crenshaw had been walking with friends toward his apartment at that moment, according to the motion.
“Fearing for his life, Mr. Crenshaw made a split-second decision to draw his pistol and fired three shots in the direction of the flashes of light and masked figures, who appeared to each hold something in their hands,” according to the motion. “Immediately after firing, Mr. Crenshaw, still fearing for his life, ran back to his apartment for safety.”
One of Crenshaw’s friends then told him someone — Renner — had collapsed in the grass, and the friend tried to call 911 but could not reach dispatch, according to the motion.
“Mr. Crenshaw then left the safety of his apartment to run out to Mr. Renner, pick him up, and help carry him to a nearby vehicle. Mr. Crenshaw and his friends drove Mr. Renner to the hospital,” the motion continues. “Upon arrival, Mr. Crenshaw volunteered to the awaiting officers that he fired his weapon in fear for his life, but did not want to hurt anybody. The police noted Mr. Crenshaw was ‘very cooperative.'”
The case had been set to go to a jury trial next month.
Crenshaw pleaded no contest to the involuntary manslaughter charge, a level-5 or midlevel-severity felony, on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Douglas County district attorney’s office.
Crenshaw’s sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 27. He faces between 31 and 136 months in prison — anywhere between roughly 2 1/2 years and 11 years — and must register as a violent offender for 15 years, according to the DA’s office.
He has remained in custody of the Douglas County jail since his arrest, jail and court records indicate.
Renner was raised in Rossville and Topeka, and he graduated from Shawnee Heights High School in 2021, according to his obituary. He had worked as a roofer in construction.
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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
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