Teen homicides spark community action at apartment complex; landlord says security changes on the way
By Krista Tatschl
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — “I said, ‘Oh no, not again.’ It’s been two incidents over there, and it has claimed four lives — four young lives.”
Palestine Cemetery board member Jerry Mitchell, along with fellow member Linda Jespen, often stroll through the 150-year-old, 3-acre space that sits opposite the apartment complex, the Depot on Old Santa Fe Road.
As they stop and look at the apartments, they talk about the recent violence on June 11 and June 27 in which four people were shot and killed.
Mitchell teared up as he thought of the four lives lost: “They were too young to go and had a lot of life left.”
Brandon Henderson Jr., 16; Rontez Donahue, 17; Dion Sims-Bey, 18; and Dillion Boykin, 18; were all shot and killed.
Police do not have any suspects in custody.
“We definitely care because we run a cemetery, and we don’t want those young lives in a cemetery,” Jespen said. “We want them to be able to enjoy their lives. That is such a tragic, tragic thing that happened to them and for their parents and their family. Nobody wants that ever.”
Monday evening, Mitchell submitted a letter asking Fifth District Kansas City Council Member Darrell Curls and Mayor Pro-Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw to address safety and security issues with The Depot management.
“Mayor Pro-Tem Parks-Shaw called (Tuesday) morning and said they had a Zoom meeting with management and with Kansas City police … we’re hopeful,” Mitchell said. “We have a lot of families who still come out here to visit their loved ones, and we want them to feel safe when they come here and this doesn’t feel safe.”
The Depot management declined to comment.
The complex landlord, Kittle Property Group, which is located in Indiana, provided a statement to KMBC 9 on Tuesday:
“Currently we have Flock cameras in different exterior areas of our community. Because Flock is only for external use, we also have interior cameras to cover the interior public spaces of our property. The Flock cameras are connected to the police and have both license plate readers and shotgun detection.
By the end of the week, we plan to implement the following:
A property-wide curfew starting at 10 p.m. After 10 p.m., residents must be in or heading towards their apartment homes. Loitering will not be allowed.
An outside security company will be patrolling the properties during the hours the office is closed, seven days a week. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays, and 24 hours on weekends. They anticipate starting by the end of the week.”
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation (Uvalde Foundation For Kids), a national nonprofit, announced Monday a $5,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and successful prosecution of the individual or individuals responsible for the fatal shooting deaths of Boykin and Henderson.
Police ask the public to call the TIPS Hotline, 816-474-TIPS, with information relevant to these crimes. There is a reward of up to $25,000.
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