'Loving' Pregnant Mom Was Run Over and Shot to Death. Then Ex Allegedly Called His Family to Confess By KC Baker

A pregnant Missouri mother of five was killed after being run over with a pickup truck and then shot with more than 20 rounds — and now her ex-boyfriend is accused of taking her life.

Arel Dawkins, of Blue Springs, was arrested on Wed., Aug. 6, and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Braisen Cain, 42, according to the Jackson County prosecutor’s office.

At 7:51 a.m. on Aug. 6, Kansas City police officers dispatched to a home on Morrell Ave. found Cain lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a probable cause statement reviewed by PEOPLE.

Cain, a teacher and mother of five boys, was pronounced dead at the scene.

One witness told police that she was inside her house when she heard gunshots. She allegedly said she saw Dawkins, whom she knows, shooting at Cain, stopping to reload before firing again.

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After firing multiple rounds, the witness alleged she saw Dawkins get into his Ford F-150 and flee the scene.

She said she knew Cain and spoke to her regularly. She said Cain had recently broken up with Dawkins and was pregnant with his child, according to the probable cause statement.

Detectives obtained surveillance video showing Dawkins’ truck allegedly running over Cain in her yard, the probable cause statement says.

The video allegedly shows Dawkins getting out of the truck, which started rolling backwards. He then allegedly pointed a gun at Cain, who was lying in the grass, and shot her several times at close range, the probable cause statement alleges.

He then allegedly started walking away but then turned around and opened fire twice, before hopping into his truck and speeding off, per the probable cause statement.

Dawkins allegedly confessed to the murder on the phone with family members and threatened to commit suicide, according to the probable cause statement. He was arrested in Springfield, Mo., without incident.

As Dawkins awaits his next court date, Cain’s friends and family are mourning her loss.

In a GoFundMe set up to help support Cain’s children and help pay for her funeral, Tricia DeGraff wrote, Braisen “was one of the most loving, kind and caring individuals you could ever meet.”

It is unclear whether Dawkins has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.