A group enforcement by the Kansas City No Violence Alliance over the last several months led to nine felony charges, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced Thursday.
It also netted 18 handguns, 400 rounds of ammunition, 38.6 grams of crack cocaine and more than $2,000 cash from associates of William M. Enloe, 20, who prosecutors charged earlier this month with second degree murder.
Enloe allegedly shot Antonio Williams Jr., 22, to death at the Phillips 66 at Bannister Road and Drury Avenue on Nov. 15, 2016.
That’s when NoVA put Enloe’s friends and family on notice.
Here’s how it works: every few months, law enforcement officers reach out to people they know are involved in violent crime in Kansas City. Who’s on the list is constantly changing, but Maj. Mike Wood, the project coordinator for NoVA, says there are usually about 1,000 names. They’re invited to what’s known as a “call-in,” usually at a local church.
“We offer them social services and a way to get out of the violent lifestyle,” Wood says.
Someone from the anti-violence group Mothers in Charge will speak.
Then, they’re warned.
“We also tell them if they choose to stay in that lifestyle, if their group is involved in the first homicide after the call-in, everybody’s that’s involved in NoVA will then target those folks and go after them aggressively,” Wood says.
That’s what happened after Williams was fatally shot. Once police had a suspect, they began to put pressure on the Deion Gang and made more than 100 city, state and federal arrests.
Wood says even more charges will be filed against 21 of Enloe’s associates in the coming days.
It was one of the most successful group enforcements to date.
Elle Moxley covers Missouri schools and politics for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.
