BTW, I'm trying to build a map of KCMO homicides this year, as you can see in the post below. I've only had a chance to plot about half of the cases so far, but hope to do more in the next week. You can see the ones I've gotten so far by clicking to see a larger version of the map.
Let me know if you love or hate it, or if you've got any ideas to improve it!
One caveat: The locations aren't exact to the house number. I use the hundred or thousand block of an address.
From KCPD: This morning at approximately 3:25am, KCMO police were called to a residence in the 6700 block of Myrtle in regard to a shooting. Upon arrival officer's located a shooting victim (black male, approximately 18yrs old) in the front yard with no signs of life.
He was pronounced dead a short time later. It appears the victim was shot inside the residence and collapsed in the front yard. Several witnesses were attending a party at the residence when the shooting occurred. The suspect fled on foot and is described as being an 18yr old black male, approximately 5'5", 150lbs, bald head, wearing a white shirt, white jacket and blue jeans.
Anyone with information in regard to this homicide is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. Further information will be released as the investigation continues.
I know food prices have gone up, but that seems pretty steep. For $1.75, you could get a bag of chips and a candy bar. Those sound very filling.
Hat Tip: Many thanks, Patty PV!
In Louisiana, a federal appeals court has dismissed a $30 million lawsuit against MySpace accusing the site of failing to protect a 14-year-old girl from sexual assault. Her parents were the ones who brought the suit. I don't think most "online protections" are particularly effective, but there's not much MySpace can do to stop teenagers from going and meeting an "online friend" in a parking lot.
Almost sounds like a job for Mom and Dad ...
Oh yeah, this is going to make some therapist very rich years from now. A Pennsylvania mom was found guilty of making her son, age 7, dress like a Cub Scout and go around asking people to donate to his "camping trip." Mom is getting to take a little 23-month-long trip herself.
Hat Tip: Many thanks, Patty PV!
For 20 years, the FBI says, a man named David Tuason sent threatening, racist letters to famous black or mixed-race men who were seen in public with white ladies. Why, you ask?
"One of the first phrases out of his mouth was, 'You wouldn't understand 'til it happened to you,' and when they inquired what that meant, he said, 'My girlfriend left me for a black man,'" Figliuzzi said.
Tuason, who is of Filipino ancestry, has pleaded guilty.
Chipotle burritos no less! Each of those things is as big as a baby.
Welcome to the Open Thread, where the elite meet to ... where the august discuss ... to heck with it, it's Saturday, and I already found an LOLcat photo. I'm not writing any poetry. For the newcomers: This is our spot for off-topic comments and discussion. And links, if you've seen something interesting elsewhere.
Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. I read the OT, but if you need to contact me directly, my email is jhart@kcstar.com.
Thanks, and have a great weekend!
Moral of the story: Always finish your candy.
Hat Tip: Many thanks to the Uncanny Keith G in PV!
So, yeah ... The guy left this poor 3-year-old girl locked in a car while he ordered a beer at Shotgun Willie's, police say. Luckily, a heroic porn-store manager came to the rescue and called the authorities. Kiddo's mom had given our man $20. He reportedly used that for cover and tipping strippers -- which is what he was doing when officers found him, the authorities say. Also, he's not 21.
The child was later given a Happy Meal.
Whew ... I would hate to read that letter of recommendation. Story is from New York.
Fantastic post from local blogger General Blather. Is it a crime? No, but this story's subject matter is absolutely enthralling, like looking at photos of a calf with five legs.
Story is from KCTV. Luckily, the woman's OK, thanks to some bystanders who helped her. Police say they found their suspect hiding in a trash bin a half-mile away; someone pointed him out to officers. As reader Kevin notes, the guy has a criminal history that goes back forever -- why was he even out on the streets?
Hat Tip: Many thanks, Kevin!
A Tennessee woman says her grown son, age 34, set her trailer home on fire after she scolded him for skipping two days of work. Snip:
Sue Barlow said her son reached in through a bedroom window and used a cigarette lighter to ignite the curtains.
She said her son then ran into the woods before police arrived.
I swear to you: I am not trying to pick on Tennessee today ...
Ah, sweet merciful Friday, our blog's favorite day of the week! Thanks for spending part of it here on the Open Thread, our repository for off-topic comments. This is also a good forum, if you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, to post links.
Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. I read the OT, but if you need to contact me directly, my email is jhart@kcstar.com.
Thanks again, and have a great Friday!
That's an estimate, and it only covers the first few weeks of the investigation. Who knows how much housing, legal representation, etc., will climb by the time everything is settled?
Snip:
Robertson said the thief is probably a genuine cross-dresser because his necklace matched the dress, his nails appeared to be painted and the wig was well made.
"Most of the time when somebody puts on a wig they're just trying to hide their identity by putting on something like a Halloween Mask, but he's pretty," Robertson said.
Story is from Atlanta -- we'd linked to an earlier version where the woman's husband's boss was offering a $20K reward for the rings' return. Good news: Police found the rings at a pawn shop.
A 20-year-old Mission Hills man surrendered to Jackson County authorities today to face charges related to a fatal hit-and-run involving a pedestrian early on Mother’s Day.
Curtis W. Mertensmeyer was to be arraigned this morning on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and driving while intoxicated. He allegedly killed Daniel Riemann, 25, early May 11 as Riemann walked along Ward Parkway near 56th Street in Kansas City.
Police later found a severely damaged 2003 Saab abandoned near Loose Park. Their investigation continues.
UPDATED: He's been found, and he's OK!
PREVIOUSLY: KCK Police are trying to find a 14-year-old boy named Jerry Wallis. Jerry is white, 120 pounds, about 4 feet 9. Police say he has curly blond hair, pale skin and thick glasses. He'd been living at a foster home in the 3500 block of Sloan. He's been missing since 5 p.m. Wednesday, when a classmate saw him riding a red-and-blue Huffy bike near 33rd and Haskell.
Jerry was wearing blue jeans, a white jacket and a brown cap at the time. Authorities say he has a variety of mental problems and hasn't taken his meds for a few days.
Anyone with information about Jerry is asked to call the police at (913) 573-6020 or the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS (8477).
Story is from Okinawa, where about half of the U.S. contingent in Japan is based. This was originally investigated by Japanese police, but the girl dropped charges. The Marines investigated on their own. Several of their charges, including counts of rape and adultery, were also dropped.
Hat Tip: Many thanks, Mikeybackwards!
Story is from Salina. He apparently didn't get far -- just across the street, where he hit a parked car. The story says the kid actually put the keys in the ignition, which makes me skeptical. I don't know any 3-year-old whose motor skills are that good.
The House added the death-penalty language at the last minute to a judiciary bill. But that measure got spiked when the two houses' negotiators got together.
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