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Two Injured In Shooting At The Plaza Saturday Night

Brian Ellison
/
KCUR 89.3
Kansas City police block of the street after a shooting Saturday night at the Country Club Plaza.

Updated 5 p.m. Monday by KCUR reporter Laura Ziegler

Kansas City, Mo. police detectives say they are following up on accounts from several witnesses to the Saturday night shootings at 4700 Broadway on the Country Club Plaza. Witnesses reported two gunshot victims, who were both transported to St. Luke's Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

In the first incident, according to the police reports, an unidentified man was trying to parallel park his car. A woman — identified only as his fiancee — was directing him from the curb. The driver heard several popping sounds. He got out of the car once the sounds stopped to find his fiancee on the ground, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the leg. He subsequently told police he saw three to four young black men running west.

The second victim was reportedly walking along 47th Street with a group of young men and women when they encountered a larger, apparently younger group — 12 to 17 years olds, according to police. An exchange of words ended in a fight. One person reportedly pulled out a handgun and began firing, sending all involved running in different directions.

Police believe they have the names of two suspects and are asking anyone with additional information to call theTips Hotline.

Tensions are reportedly high on the Plaza among visitors and business owners.

Meredith Keeler, general manager of the Plaza, responded to request for comment from KCUR with an email statement:

"We have a multi-faceted security approach that includes efforts both seen and unseen, and involves the regular deployment of armed, off-duty police officers both on foot and in patrol cars. We continually evaluate security staffing levels and make adjustments as needed based on events, foot traffic and other factors. In order for our other security strategies to remain effective, we will not comment further."

Community activists caution against putting too much emphasis on violence in one part of the city.

Damon Daniel, of the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime,says there were two homicides elsewhere in Kansas City over the weekend. 

"We all ought to be concerned not just because of where (violence) happens geographically, but because it is happening at all, and so frequently," he says.

Daniel says the community needs to address the lack of planned activities for young people on weekends. 

(Original post begins here.)

Two people are in the hospital after being shot at the Country Club Plaza Saturday evening. 

According to Captain Jim Schulte, Kansas City Police were called to the scene near 47th and Broadway at 7:48 p.m.  A man and woman had been shot. They were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  Schulte says the injuries were "very minor." 

Police closed the streets temporarily. No one is in custody. Police are asking anyone with information to call the TIPS hotline

KCUR's Brian Ellison  and Laura Ziegler contributed to this report.

Slow news days are a thing of the past. As KCUR’s news director, I want to cut through the noise, provide context to the headlines, and give you news you can use in your daily life – information that will empower you to make informed decisions about your neighborhood, your city and the region. Email me at lisa@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @larodrig.
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