Ward Parkway shooting

UPDATED: Two victims died at Ward Parkway, plus the shooter. An officer was shot and injured at a gas station on Bannister, but should be OK. And it all apparently comes back to a dead woman who was found in her home near 93rd and Cleveland earlier this afternoon. The Star's latest report is here.

Reports from other local media: KMBC, KSHB, WDAF and KCTV. The story was also the lead or a secondary headline for many national media. Most of them were picking up the AP feed, available here.

We had extra people working today. I went to the scene at 93rd and Cleveland, which was comparatively quiet compared to the mall. The neighborhood's north of Bannister, west of U.S. 71 -- older, blue-collar. It's next to a large apartment complex where I've been for police calls, but this street is relatively peaceful, homeowners said. Talked to a few neighbors, who said the residence of the house in question was an elderly lady. They said she was nice, a longtime resident, but most said it had been a few days since anyone had seen her.

Reaction from local bloggers ...

General Blather: I blame the idiots in the media for sensationalizing this crap. I blame NBC for assaulting us with visions of that crazy asshat responsible for the Virginia Tech shootings two seconds after the last victim fell. Simple-minded peons now know how to get their faces on every major network without having to go through mindless auditions for crappy reality shows.

There's a fine line between insanity and genius: If you didn't know, there was a shooting at the Ward Parkway Mall today. The TJ Maxx that I work at is there. I was NOT at work today, and I'm perfectly fine, if a little freaked out. All the news said was that the shooting happened in a Starbucks (WTF?) and perhaps 3 civilians had been killed, and perhaps a police officer. This is very sad. There had been an increase in crime since the Bannister Mall closed.

Happy In Bag, who knew people who were there when the shooting happened

Kruse Kronicle

Tidy Bowl

Hip Suburban White Guy, who argues for tougher gun-control.

Allison Stein's Live Journal

Blue Girl, Red State

The official KCPD statement: Officers were called Sunday, April 29th, at about 149 pm to the 3700 block of East 93rd street to check the welfare of an elderly woman.  When the officers arrived, they discovered a dead woman inside the home.  Officers were also told the woman's car was missing.  The officers put out a description of the woman's car.

At about 311 pm, an officer on patrol saw the vehicle that was reported missing from the woman's home.  The officer stopped the car at 1311 Bannister road.  When he stopped the car, the driver began shooting at the officer.  The officer returned fire but was struck in the arm by one of the gunman's shots.  The officer put out a description of the vehicle to officers.  It is unknown if any of the officer's shots struck the man.  He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.  He was treated and released.  The officer is 44 years old and has been with the department since January 1992.

At about 327 pm, we received a call regarding an outside disturbance with shots fired at the Ward Parkway mall, 8600 Ward Parkway.  While on the way to the call, the officers received information that a man was inside the mall with a long gun.  Officers from Kansas City and Leawood, along with security from the mall, confronted the man inside the common area of the mall.  During this confrontation, the man was shot to death by the officers.  It is believed the dead man is the one who shot the officer on Bannister road.  His vehicle was found in the parking lot.  Additionally, two people were found shot to death on each side of the vehicle the man was driving.

Comments

[CareBear]

I can't believe this is happening again. I was watching NASCAR when they broke in. Why, I just cannot understand. What is it going to take to make it all end? My heart hurts so bad for the lost ones, children now scarred for life as their parent tries to protect them and keep them out of harms' way.

[ENDelt282]

I live a few blocks away and have been doing yardwork all day. I knew something big was happening...cops were flying down 85th like crazy. last I heard, 2 civilians dead, the shooter is dead, one officer injured at Ward, and one officer not critically injured at a connected Valero gas station shooting.

that sucks.

[CareBear]

ENDelt282-why? I really can't understand why there are so many out there willing to take other peoples' lives.

[BS Steve]

CB,

I actually heard there was children left behind in the shopping mall as the parents just ran out scared.....And also heard there was a few people trampled from others trying to get out in a hurry....Kinda reminds you of a herd of livestock doesnt it????? How sad is that????

[CareBear]

BS-thank God, someone to talk to. Last I heard there were children being protected by their parents. If you heard something different, that makes me want to vomit. I never use this word, but I'm going to now, who in the H*LL who leave their child behind to save their own A**es?

And yes, chuckle between tears, it does remind me of livestock comin' home. Tuck your butt and run!

[The DB]

I hope to god that they didn't leave their kids behind. That is a crime in itself.

[burnt]

and yet nothing about the shooting that occured in westport friday night. why is this shooting any worse. from what i was told, 2 people were either killed or seriously injured. does westport have some deal to keep their crime out of the news?

[The DB]

burnt:

I think it's called the Westport Business Owner's association...

[The DB]

Or let me rephrase that: The We$tport Bu$ine$$ A$$ociation...

[CareBear]

The DB-I am hoping BS Steve is wrong. I would step in front of anything to protect my daughters, and my friends. I cannot understand what makes someone so hopeless, so uncaring.

burnt-I haven't heard anything about a shooting in Westport on Friday. I'll go see if I can find something.

[Quad Kings]

When are we going to accept the fact that keeping society (somewhat) protected from whackos is more important than the so-called right to absolute privacy? These whack-jobs live in anonymity so no one sees the signs. Then we question why we can't protect ourselves when they finally snap! A little disconnect here?

[blarney]

This stuff happens and nothing going to stop it because parents don't raise their children anymore they let t.v.'s, mall security and ushers at the theatre do it for them.

[Old Crank]

The media defiently makes a story where it finds one. How many people died this weekend in traffic accidents? Why does this have to be hashed and re-hashed so copycat idiots get new ideas?

It is a sad world we live in-

[Joe]

The sensational journalism, vultures if you will, will continue so long as we continue to buy into it and support it.

The more sensational, the more ratings, the more ratings the more money. The more money, the more presetige. The more prestige, the more greed and ... and ... and ... ad infinitum ,ad nauseum.

Shock and gore. Shock and gore. Sex, shock and gore. It sells - and America buys it.

Come on people. Wake up.

[The DB]

Are you folks reading (or watching) the same news I am? This cat is (allegedly) responsible for 3 crime scenes - possible death of a woman and stealing her car, shooting an officer, and the shootings at a busy mall. 4 people dead, 3 or more injured. Looks like newsworthy to me. Especially if you have family or friends out shopping.

CB,
After hearing stories from therapists who see patients...it really isn't that hard.

What each of us know as right and wrong is all relative. How each of us are brought up, voluntary or not, as well as the environment we live in plays a big part how we see society and other humans.

I would not be surprised to find that this 50yr old man had some problems. I'm not making excuses, but what you and I think of "not right" just doesn't work for some people...they are on some other wrong/right scale.

[CareBear]

Joe-are you doing something about it?

[CareBear]

who posted to me at 9:20? I see what you're saying, but would like to chat more.

4 people dead, 3 or more injured. Looks like newsworthy to me. Especially if you have family or friends out shopping."---The DB

Yes, it's newsworthy. I seen where it was on every major news outlet on-lin. This is some pretty serious crap.

It makes me wonder what makes people tick, then like a timebomb, they explode. I have't read yet where anyone was leaving their children behind, I hope that is not the case, like carebear said, I would be hoovering over my kids like a cloud.. Theres no way I would leave my kids behind...

[blondie2hot7]

that last one was me, not the other anonymous

[K]

The Westport shooting was on the news, and both people that were shot are expected to have full recoverys and the suspect was apprehended on scene. This ordeal today is a much bigger deal....it could have gone from bad to worse in seconds....in an open area with no officers around. Westport has officers readily available and usually walking the streets.....

[CareBear]

blondie-the only thing I have seen so far was parents were covering up their children. I hope to high Heaven The DB misread. It is more than newsworthy, it should be a wake up right here in the Metro area. I wish we could do a roll call and account for everyone.

[CareBear]

Thanks K, I tried to find something about it and couldn't. I cannot imagine the terror that was in the minds of those involved.

[John Weir]

This stuff happens because parents let T.V. raise their kids? The guy was supposedly the age of a grandpa. I love the armchair psychologists. They know none of the details, yet know that modern society is to blame. People have been shooting other people from the time guns were invented. Before that they were shooting each other with arrows. This was long before T.V. was invented. Society and parents are not to blame. The shooter is to blame. He is dead now. Here is a suggestion. If someone wants to kill lots of other people, get a government job. They call mass murderers on a government paycheck "heroes".

[OLE MO/KY FELLER]

WE HAVE GOT TO GET GOD BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS! AND WE MUST GIVE TEACHERS THE RIGHT....NO WE MUST REQUIRE TEACHERS TO DOLE OUT PUNISHMENT TO STUDENTS. TEACH THEM RESPECT FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT WE FORMERLY WERE TAUGHT. THEN WE WILL STOP THESE STUPID SHOOTING SPREES. (MAYBE NOT ENTIRELY, BUT I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THEY WOULD BE GREATLY REDUCED.) WE ALSO NEED TO NOT ONLY BRING BACK THE DRAFT, BUT PUT IN MANDATORY MILITARY TRAINING FOR ALL MEN...RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL...YES, BEFORE COLLEGE!

[CareBear]

What exactly are you trying to say "John Weir"? I can't make a lick of sense out of anything other than the shooter is deceased.

[The DB]

CareBear:

Looks like the dude turned a neighborhood issue into a murder, shooting an officer, and killing innocents. I saw a neighbor on TV that said he had issues, (mental and alcohol)and was fired from Target a couple years ago.

And to the "thugs from Bannister Mall" theory...this was a caucasian in his 50's.

Don't be too early to judge. Even I don't want to judge on the circumstances. The police have a whole lot of investigating to do.

[Uncle Ted]

OLE MO/KY-What do you mean get God into the schools? Being an omnipotent deity, what's keeping him/her/it out? If you're saying that teachers should be preaching the Good Book rather than lecturing about a good book, then I think you should probably put that idea back in the oven, because it sounds half-baked. I am a teacher. What the hell place do I have telling kids about God? Whose God? Mine? Yours? Isn't that the parents job? Do you really want a math teacher instructing youths in the ways of achieving salvation? I can barely instruct them about the quadratic formula. Religion in public schools? Not the answer. Sorry to go on so long, it's just dumb "solutions" that drive me nuts.

[CareBear]

Thank you The DB-I'm not judging anything, other than my heart is breaking for these people. There is indeed going to be alot of investigating to do. Would you please dicipher what "John Weir" was trying to say? I've read it 4 times, and still can't figure it out. Of course, one could say I'm completely menopausal, and that would account for the lack of brain flow!

[jlight1234]

Hmm. mandatory military service? That really helped Timothy Mcveigh.

[Not so Ole Feller]

OLE MO/KY FELLER: I see what you are trying to say, but your logic is very much flawed. You cannot put this on the schools without addressing the important issue...the home. What were "all the things" you were taught at school that aren't being taught now? What specific "things" do you see that need to be changed? As for your draft comment, what is your logic? It seems kind of counter-intuitive to me. Are you saying that in order to stop people from killing we need to train them how to kill? That's what it seems like to me. Now don't twist what I'm saying, I'm not suggesting that our military trains soldiers to go on killing sprees, but isn't the fundamental purpose of the military to protect, which includes the use of force and sometimes results in the taking of lives. Just some thoughts

[Linda Lou]

I don't think God being in the schools or a mandatory draft would have helped this 50 year old white male nutcase. In fact, he probably did grow up with God in the schools.

It will be interesting to see how the mall weathers this. I remember when Thrills nightclub over by Bannister was hanging by a thread (the neighborhood was changing and there was lots of racial tension) when a crazy white guy came in and stabbed a white woman to death. She didn't even know him, it was a random deal but the club was a ghost town after that.

[blondie2hot7]

I don't think God being in the schools or a mandatory draft would have helped this 50 year old white male nutcase. In fact, he probably did grow up with God in the schools.---Linda Lou

I agree with you, it has nothing to do with God being in the schools. If the parents want to teach their children, so be it. The guy in this case was 50 yrs old, and I am pretty sure they still had prayer in the classroom.

People need to quit blaming the parents and God for every random nutcake that goes on a shooting spree. He apparently had some issues, but it's over, done, we can feel safe again, or at least until the next one happens

[The DB]

CareBear:

I read his "post" quite a few times. I guess he has a problem with the politicians or the military in the US. That is my take, but I could be wrong (which I am a lot) Just his rant about "government paycheck".

[Tim Head]

Please tell me John does not have access to firearms.

[carnie wilson]

WE NEED A GUN IN EVERY CITIZEN'S HAND. IF MALL SHOPPERS WOULD HAVE BEEN ARMED, THEY COULD HAVE STOPPED THIS BEFORE IT EVEN GOT STARTED. GUN CONTROL? WE NEED GUN DISTRIBUTION. WHY DO WE HAVE A CONCEAL AND CARRY LAW IF NO ONE WILL CARRY A GUN?

[The Zipper]

Was headed to the Sprint store at 4:05 pm with one of my kids. Got into the Mall parking lot near the target store. We knew something was up because EVERY SINGLE entrance to the Mall had police cars blocking anyone from leaving. There were 3 huge firetrucks, 3 ambulances and a minimum of 40 police cars at the seen. My kid asked me what happened and I said I guessed there was a shooting. never seen so many cops. we got out of car and started to try and walkin when a cop came over and said forget about shopping today, that there had been a "rampage". Her words. Pretty crazy seen really.

[Ted Nugent]

Dear Carnie Wilson,
Do you honestly think armed mall shoppers would have been able to stop this before it started? Did you even think about what you were saying? I'm sure armed people would have stopped this crazy man from shooting two unsuspecting people in cars next to his.

As for your preposterous statement that we need gun distribution, did you think through the consequences of such a plan? Have you ever seen the fallout from a big brawl? It becomes utter chaos, with people just swinging wildly hoping to connect with someone else. This is exactly what would result from everyone being armed. A shoots the "shooter" and B mistakenly thinks A is the "shooter" and shoots A. Meanwhile C thinks B is the "shooter" and shoots him, and so one. Very similar to a brawl.

Think before you speak.

[Don Imus]

Carnie,

Trust me, think before you speak. You sound like an idiot.

Sincerley,
Don Imus

[Brian Wilson]

Carnie! people think I'm a mess from all of my drug use and psychosis. When you say such stupid things they think that you may have gotten some bad genes from me.

[KC Cop]

How about stop blaming gun control, military service and school punishment and start controlling one thing that is lacking in the majority of American families: Parents putting more time, effort and discipline into their children! If this does not happen, then all the forementioned topics do not really matter. PARENTS GET CONTROL, AND YOU CONTROL THE FUTURE!

This settles it. I'm getting a concealed carry permit. Hats off to the KCMO and Leawood cops who ran right in the mall and took the guy out before he could kill more people. Looks like they learned what not to do from the moron cops at Columbine who stood around in the parking lot while the killers racked up a bigger body count.

[The Zipper]

Look idiot! You can't just get a conceal gun to carry because you're fed up. Thank God we don't have to give guns to any dipshite that wants one. If I knew that everyone at the Mall was csrrying one I'd make sure to do all my shopping online.

[BS Steve]

CB I just heard it when they was inveiwing a lady she had mentioned it but they havnt put much emphasis on it by any news media.....

[Not So Ole Feller]

Thank you KC Cop!! You hit the nail on the head!!!

[BS Steve]

"Look idiot! You can't just get a conceal gun to carry because you're fed up. "

Well Zip hate to tell ya this but if that guy/gal that said they was gonna get a conceal carry they can....If they pass all the B/G checks and tests and pay their 100 bucks....Lol Being fed up is just excuse to do all that is all......

[BS Steve]

KC Cop,

Age has nothing to do with it obviously this guy was in his 50s.....

[KC Cop]

The majority of crime is being committed by individuals between the ages of 13 and 19 years old. Crime will never stop, and this obviously was an incident that involved an older man, who had major problems! I work in the area of Ward Parkway mall, and I am thankful for having not had to work today! On the otherside I am upset that I was not there to help out my fellow officers, and protect the citizens who were in that mall today. I made a commitment to serving this city, all I am asking is that parents; ALL PARENTS TAKE UP THE SAME COMMITMENT AND SERVE THEIR CHILDREN. As a soceity we are failing to do this. I know because I see the repercussions first hand!

[mike]

There is no point in trying to understand this. This has nothing to do with kids and education and bringing back traditional values or whatever that is supposed to mean.

It also certainly provides no proof that religion should be taught anywhere. We should actually all be pretty thankful that things didn't turn out worse. Response time was good, and casualties probably kept minimal because of it. This is the beginning of sweeps month and random violence does really well because we consume more stories trying to make sense of it. We won't.

Sadly, I'd bet that statistically you are more likely to be killed by police officers breaking down your door in a botched paramilitary drug raid in this city than in a random shooting spree by a deranged individual at a mall.

[BS Steve]

Lol mike you had to do it huh??

I honestly see alot more violent crimes commited by people in older age ranges than you described KC Cop.......Crime overall mabe commited by teens but not if you just check the violent ones.....