Community rallies for peace, justice after deadly nightclub shooting
By Alan Shope
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KANSAS CITY (KMBC) — Community members gathered Saturday for a peace rally and fundraiser after a deadly double shooting inside a Kansas City nightclub.
“This gun violence has got to stop,” said Tamika Bowman, whose daughter, TiShauna Ballard, was one of two women killed in the shooting.
Bowman said her family is still grappling with the loss.
“People that survived the shooting, my prayers go out to them all as well,” she said. “I don’t have my baby anymore. I can’t hold her. I can’t talk to her. She can’t call me.”
Ballard and Eboni Silas were shot and killed early last Sunday morning inside Status Nightclub near 28th Street and Southwest Boulevard.
The event, called Enough Is Enough, was organized to help raise money for the victims’ families and to send a message against gun violence.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s frustrating. It’s unnecessary,” said Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.
Pat Clarke, who works in community outreach, said the city must confront the toll violence is taking.
“I have a question: who’s next? Two babies. Two young women are gone. Is the city upset yet?” Clarke said.
Earlier this week, Kansas City officials shut down the nightclub where the shooting happened.
Police have a suspect in custody, but Johnson said the investigation depends on community cooperation.
“We cannot sit on social media and say that we’re tired of this and enough is enough if you’re not willing to offer up what you know,” Johnson said.
For Bowman, the pain remains constant.
“I just wanna hear her just say mama one more time. I just want to talk to her and I can’t,” she said.
Clarke said the ripple effects of violence extend far beyond a single moment.
“A person walks up into a nightclub and destroys families forever. What are we going to do?” he said.
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