Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Shooting Near Gladstone Elementary Results in Death


Kansas City Police Officers on Tuesday morning were investigating a shooting that resulted in the city’s latest homicide. Officers initially responded to a shots fired call near the intersection of Elmwood and Scarritt Avenues Tuesday evening at approximately 10:45 pm. across from Gladstone Elementary School. Sources indicated that a man living at 220 North Elmwood was outside when a disturbance erupted between the resident and a group of black male subjects in a PT Cruiser on the street. Allegedly, the parties began shooting at one another and the subjects in PT Cruiser fled the scene, pursued by the resident and a Hispanic male friend in a black Pontiac.

The suspect’s vehicle was later discovered abandoned in an alley behind the Mark I apartments near Maple Boulevard and Missouri Avenue. One subject, a black male in his 20’s was discovered deceased inside the vehicle from alleged gunshot wounds. The name of the victim has not been released at this time pending notification of relatives. Later in the morning, (above) police investigators marked footprints in the snow through Maple Park with orange cones that led from the area near the abandoned vehicle toward the Riverview housing project. Sources close to the investigation indicated that at least one suspect from the PT cruiser was in custody and Police were questioning other occupants of the car.
The Hispanic male has not been located at this time.

Neighbors living near the house on Elmwood stated that there hadn’t been any problems at the house until last week when thieves tried to steal a number of vehicles in the vicinity of Elmwood and Scarritt. “Maybe they came back to try and finish things up” said one neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.

Police at this hour are continuing their investigation. Watch for updates on this story on our web site and in next week’s print edition.

2 comments:

Bryan M. Stalder said...

This is really disturbing news. Earlier this year, there was a shooting at the corner of Sunrise and Lawn, and last year, a teenager was shot on Lawn between Sunrise and Scarritt. Although it's probably not the first thing on a criminal's mind when they're commiting violent acts, it might be a good idea to increase penalties on violent crimes that occur within five blocks of a school.

Bunny the newshound said...

That'd be something the Indian Mound neighborhood should lobby heavily for. It took place within 500 ft. of a school so I think it'd be covered by a state law that, if I'm not mistaken, mandates a stiffer penalty.

Sources close to the investigation indicate that these folks, (residents and visitors) in all likelihood knew each other. Additionally, the victim is a known criminal element, easily deduced because the photo sent by the Police Department is in reality a mug shot - which we'll post on our web site tomorrow.