Shooting at KCK park kills young woman, critically injures 15-year-old
No suspect description has been given by authorities
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a shooting at a park in Kansas City, Kansas, left a young woman dead and a teenage boy critically injured.
It happened just before 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Park near N. 32nd Street and Ford Avenue. When police responded to the shooting, they found a woman dead and a teenager suffering from critical injuries.
The teen was transported to a local hospital and remains in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon.
On Tuesday afternoon, the sheriff’s office also identified victim who had passed away as 21-year-old Brenda Mejia-Bautista. They also specified that the teen who was injured is 15 years old.
Crime scene tape was visible near a shelter and playground area of the park Monday night. The sheriff’s office has not yet released any suspect information.
As is routine, the sheriff’s office is handling the investigation because the shooting happened at a park. They are asking for anyone with additional information regarding the shooting to contact the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Heather Strickland has lived right across the street from the park for 14 years. She says the park has always been very quiet, but that it has taken a violent turn just in the last year.
“We had a brand new shelter built. There was vandalism done to that and someone used a BB gun on one of the bathroom doors. Then, we’ve been getting sideshows where people bring their cars up, spinning them in the parking lot and racing them up and down the street,” said Strickland.
She said she’s had to clean up her yard multiple times from the mess the group leaves behind. But, even worse, she fears for her safety.
“I can’t stand it. It’s loud. It’s also scary because I have a dog and, when I’m walking my dog, I worry about him getting hit.
Strickland said her home is just not the same as it used to be.
“Usually, once a night, there’s a police officer chasing people out of here,” she said.
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