At least three individuals were killed and five others injured during a shooting incident on Sunday morning in a parking lot in Kansas City, Missouri. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office provided this information, stating that the violence occurred around 4:30 a.m. in the Southeastern part of downtown Kansas City.
Sheriff Darryl Forte tweeted about the incident, mentioning that officers responded to a report of gunfire and discovered three deceased victims, consisting of two men and a woman, in the parking lot and on a nearby street at the intersection of 57th Street and Prospect Avenue.
Currently, no arrests have been made, and investigators are working on determining the motive behind the shooting. Five additional individuals, who had sustained gunshot wounds believed to be non-life-threatening, were transported to hospitals by ambulance or private vehicles.
A reward of $25,000 is being offered for any information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the individuals responsible for the shooting. The incident, which resulted in three deaths, occurred amidst a significant increase in homicides in Kansas City this year.
According to crime statistics from the Kansas City Police Department, there has been a 28% rise in homicides compared to the previous year. Prior to this weekend’s shooting, the police had already investigated 91 homicides this year, marking an increase of 20 cases compared to the same period last year.
Mayor Quinton Lucas took to Twitter to express his condolences to the victims’ families and raised questions about the presence of a gathering in the parking lot at the time of the shooting.
“My condolences to the families of three people killed in a shooting this morning at an apparent after-hours gathering near 57 and Prospect. If the business knew persons would be present, without security, selling alcohol, and thwarting our laws, that business should be closed.” Lucus tweeted
