Up To Date

Mothers Reveal The Real Cost Of Kansas City's Violence

By Brian Ellison,

Published December 11, 2020 at 4:10 PM CST

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Rosilyn Temple of the anti-violence group Mothers in Charge speaks at a vigil for LeGend Taliaferro on July 1. — A vigil for 4-year old LeGend Taliferro who died from gunfire as he slept on June 29, 2020. Kansas City, Missouri has since broken its one-year record for number of homicides.

Bonita Jones says of losing her son Barron Shelton, "It's like a part of your heart that's missing."

The number 170 represents more than the record-breaking number of homicides that have occurred in Kansas City, Missouri in 2020. Two mothers share memories of their sons and the pain of losing them. Making it worse, neither crime has been solved which both say would bring a degree of closure.

Denine McCord lost her son Brandon Grimes-McCord in 2019
Bonita Jones lost her son Barron Shelton in 2020

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Brian Ellison

As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.

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Chris Young

Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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