Updated Sunday, 11:09 a.m. with the charging of a suspect in this case. We will continue to update this story as details emerge.
A Kansas City, Kansas, man has been charged in connection to a shooting early Saturday morning in Westport that left one person dead and four others injured.
The shooting occurred at about 1:30 a.m., when an off-duty Kansas City Police officer saw a white SUV traveling along Mill Street near Westport Road shooting. Devon Carter, 25, told police he was driving the vehicle. He has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.
A police statement said the off-duty officer discharged his weapon "at the people who were involved and actively shooting." Other security officers were also reportedly involved, but it is unclear if they fired any weapons, too.
A short time later, another responding officer located the bullet-riddled SUV nearby at 39th and Main, and one person was taken in to custody there.
KCPD said the deceased victim was a man. Of the four other people wounded, two men are in critical condition as of Saturday morning and a third man is in stable condition. A woman also suffered non-life-threatening injuries. It is unknown whether any of the victims were in the SUV or were bystanders.
Westport has long had a reputation for gun violence. In 2017, the Kansas City Council approved privatizing some sidewalks in the entertainment district to allow for more security screenings.
In 2018, screenings with metal detectors at certain entry points into the districtbegan on Friday and Saturday nights between April and October.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas addressed the shooting at a previously scheduled budget hearing for the public at the Southeast Community Center Saturday morning. He later issued a statement to KCUR.
“My heart breaks for the families impacted by the last day of violence. We’ve tried a lot—more officers; privatizing sidewalks; new ordinances—and I’m sad to say it’s not working,” Lusas said.
He also said he planned to meet this week with Westport businesses and police officials to discuss what steps could be taken following Saturday’s shooting.
“Our city shouldn’t have to stomach another year of tragedy," he said. "This is the issue holding Kansas City back."
KCPD is also asking the public if they have any video or more information about the shooting to contact the homicide unit at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
Kyle Palmer is KCUR's news director.
