I Owe ‘Em That Body

Tityana Coppage lost her younger brother Jaylen, 8, and cousin, Montell Ross, 9, during a 2016 drive-by shooting. Five years later, her brother, Jason Ugwuh, was fatally shot. The 16-year-old star basketball player had a bright future until that tragic day on January 10, 2021.

Three days later, Tityana encountered the man she believed to be responsible for Jason's death sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle parked in a parking lot near Benton Blvd. and Thompson Ave. She opened fire on the vehicle, shooting Keith Lars in the leg and chest.

Lars' brother, the driver, sped away from the scene and called 9-1-1. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but it was too late. Lars' was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

Coppage texted her deceased brother’s phone after the shooting.

“Sent a n***a to my brother. I owe em that body.”

Police Speak With Coppage

Police learned from witnesses at the scene the shooter drove a black Ford Escort. Investigators soon tracked the vehicle to Coppage. She spoke to detectives at the police station and admitted to calling Lars' before the shooting. She claimed she called to smooth out a conflict between Lars and her father before "one of them killed the other."

She changed her story, saying Lars shot at her first and she returned fire in self-defense. She claimed she fired only one shot.

Police found text message on Coppage’s phone sent to a woman named “Auntie” asking her for .45 caliber bullets. She texted “LOL I used to many on bro.”

Coppage was taken into custody and charged with murder.

A Sad Facebook Post

The day following the death of her brother, Coppage wrote on her Facebook page,

“I tried to shield y’all from everything I had to witness as a kid. I worked long and hard hours to keep a roof over your heads… All I wanted was to see you succeed in school and reach the top. But I still failed you… why didnt you just listen to me out?”

“I just wanted more time with you, that’s all,” the post continued. (In reference to her late brother.)

Police said there is no evidence tying Lars to Jason's murder.

Coppage Convicted

Tityana Coppage was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison. She is currently incarcerated at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, MO.

Jason's murder remains unsolved.

The murders of Coppage's younger brother, Jaylen, and cousin, Montell, also remain unsolved.

Sources & Further Information:

https://www.serenitymemorialkc.com/obituary/Jayson-UgwuhJr

https://people.com/crime/woman-tracks-down-teen-brothers-alleged-murderer-and-kills-him/

https://www.revolt.tv/news/2021/1/21/22243103/dababy-42-dugg-tityana-coppage-bail

https://jccweb.jacksongov.org/inmatesearch/frmInmateDetails.aspx

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