KSHB 41 Reporter Alyssa Jackson has been following the murder of Kourtney Freeman and the anti-violence efforts that followed her death since 2024. She covers Kansas City, Missouri. Share your story idea with Alyssa.
An 18-year-old has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2024 shooting death of 11-year-old Kourtney Freeman, according to KSHB 41’s Alyssa Jackson.
Jackson attended the sentencing Monday at the downtown Jackson County Courthouse.
She reported Re’Mori Roath, 18, was sentenced to 20 years for second-degree murder.
At the time of the crime, he was a juvenile — 16 years old. In 2024, the court decided he would be tried as an adult.
Roath pleaded guilty in November 2025 in the April 10, 2024, killing.
He fired several gunshots into a home near East 33rd Street and Flora Avenue, striking Kourtney inside.
Police ultimately traced him to the crime through city surveillance cameras. Detectives also found his DNA on the murder weapon, which was located during a search of his home.
Kourtney was beloved by many.
Her sister and great grandmother were present at Monday's hearing to share victim impact statements.
Freeman's teacher, Teresa Fliger, also showed up for the judge's decision.
"She had so much power, so much strength and a true advocate for every single person she came in contact with," Fliger told KSHB 41 in November.
The youth of the defendant and victim were consistently mentioned at sentencing.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joel Ritchie put Kourtney's Ewing Marion Kauffman yearbook photo on a screen for the courtroom to see — saying, "her face wore an easy smile".
He listed all of the life moments an 11-year-old should be able to experience.
"She would've been everything. She wanted to be a lawyer. She wanted to be an OBGYN. She loved basketball — all sports. I see my sister doing everything," said Kaliah Washington, Kourtney's sister.
Kourtney was the casualty of a drug deal she was not involved in.
Attorney Ritchie added in his closing remarks, that Roath will have a future but he must be held accountable for the future he took.
After the hearing, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson took a few questions about the outcome of the case.
"Kourtney Freeman should still be here. Re'mori Roath should not be in the predicament that he is in — so how do we come together as a community to ensure children have positive outlets? Positive mentors? If they’re not in their home, how do we build that infrastructure outside of their home so they are still getting the resources they need?" she said.
Freeman's great grandmother spoke in place of Kourtney's mother, Samantha.
She told the courtroom, she wakes up at 3 a.m. thinking about her — praying this will be over soon.
A significant portion of her remarks were directed to Re'Mori Roath — telling him about her faith in God.
"My God has a way out," she said. "We will stand before an earthly judge and Jesus Christ."
Kourtney's sister, Kaliah, made it clear she wanted Roath to serve more time but she's grateful to an extent for the work done by the prosecutor's office.
"He got his sentencing. He got the years. I got a little closure from it...not enough just a tad bit. I’m going to try to keep moving forward with my days — at least he’s caught. That’s all I can think about. At least he’s caught and it’s not an unsolved case," Washington said.
KSHB 41 Kansas City Reporter Alyssa Jackson made multiple visits to speak with Kourtney's classmates since her death.
“I could barely get sleep when Kourtney died. It was really hard letting her go,” her best friend Emily Castro told KSHB 41 in April 2024.
Many noted Kourtney’s involvement in a student-led violence prevention group, Kauffman Cares, at her school, the Ewing Marion Kauffman School.
“She really had love for people, and she would stand up for people. And for her to go that way was just heartbreaking,” Rikai Mason, a member of Kauffman Cares, said in 2024. “She was the number one student inside Kauffman Cares that didn’t like violence at all.”
In November 2025, KSHB 41's Jackson caught up with Kourtney's classmates and former teacher. They said they plan to host an annual anti-violence workshop, dedicating the effort to Kourtney.
"I see it as this is our responsibility," her teacher said. "They don’t have to wait for someone else to do it — you can do it."
After sentencing, Freeman's sister noted that Kourtney would be a part of Kauffman's efforts if she were still alive.
"She would be working with the kids at her school — stopping violence. That was her favorite thing to work on — stopping the violence," Washington said.
Roath will be in his mid-30's when he gets out of prison.
He will get credit for time served in his sentence.
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