Kansas City, Missouri – A “subject of interest” has been taken into custody in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred in a parking lot in Kansas City, Missouri, over the weekend, leaving three people dead and five others injured, according to officials from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The violence erupted around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday in southeast downtown Kansas City, as reported by Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte. Authorities apprehended a man Sunday afternoon at a residence in Grandview, Missouri, approximately 16 miles south of Kansas City. The individual taken into custody is considered a “subject of interest” in the shooting incident.
The suspect’s identity has been withheld by the sheriff’s office as they await potential charges related to the case. The circumstances leading investigators to the individual were not disclosed.
Law enforcement responded to reports of gunfire and discovered three deceased individuals – two men and one woman – in the parking lot and adjacent street south of the intersection of 57th Street and Prospect Avenue, stated Forte. At this time, no arrests have been made, and authorities are actively investigating the motive behind the shooting.
Five additional individuals sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and were transported to hospitals for treatment, according to Forte. Preliminary findings suggest that a large gathering was taking place in the parking lot when the shooting occurred.
Officials are conducting interviews with witnesses and gathering evidence at the crime scene to piece together the events that transpired. A $25,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects involved in the shooting.
The triple homicide took place amidst a surge in homicides in Kansas City this year, with a 28% increase compared to the previous year, based on data from the Kansas City Police Department. Prior to this weekend’s tragic incident, law enforcement had responded to 91 homicides in the city, marking a notable uptick from the same period last year.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas expressed his condolences on Twitter to the families affected by the violence and raised concerns about the circumstances that led to the shooting. Lucas questioned the lack of security measures at the location where the incident occurred, emphasizing the need for compliance with laws and regulations in such settings.
Throughout the night, a total of 13 individuals were shot in Kansas City, including one fatality reported at a short-term vacation rental property. Law enforcement agencies are urging anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward to aid in the investigation and bring those responsible to justice.