gun violence

Columbia, Missouri, leaders are shared their plans for increasing safety downtown following the shooting of a Stephens College student Saturday.

After a weekend shooting killed a Stephens College student, University of Missouri President Mun Choi sent a letter to state and county leaders criticizing policies that he says "attract criminals to the region." However, Choi could not cite any specifics, and police numbers contradict his claims.

The killing of beloved Irish-born chef Shaun Brady, who was shot in 2024 outside his Brookside restaurant, triggered at least $1.5 million in measurable costs, revealing the often-ignored economic burden that gun violence places on families, neighborhoods, businesses and taxpayers.

22-year-old Larry Black, Jr. arrived at a St. Louis hospital after getting shot in the head. A week later, he was taken to surgery to have his organs removed for donation — even though his heart was beating and his family had doubts. Today, Black is alive and haunted by what almost happened.

Dorian Johnson died of injuries sustained during a shooting Sunday morning on Abaco Court, less than a mile from where a police officer killed Michael Brown in 2014.

McCloskey and his wife Patricia had been forced to surrender the rifle and a second firearm after pleading guilty to misdemeanors for pointing the guns at George Floyd protesters in 2020.

Kansas City's homicide rate decreased in 2024, but the numbers still leave cause for concern. Local experts want residents to better understand the conditions that drive violent crime — and what will fix them.

Missouri's homicide victimization rate for its Black residents was 54.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, more than twice the national rate. The Violence Policy Center has issued the report for 20 years and Missouri has been either first or second every time.

Andre Harris, founder of the nonprofit Dads Against Crime, says that Kansas City's violent crime problem can't be fixed if people can't feel comfortable talking to law enforcement and discussing mental health.

Blair's Law makes it a crime in Missouri to fire a gun in a celebratory manor. The Jackson County prosecutor is encouraging people to call 911 so the office can charge offenders.

The killing of a Democratic state representative in Minnesota this past weekend has Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes concerned about her and her family's safety. The name of Missouri U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II was also included on the suspect's "hit list."

Federal authorities are also investigating the Washington, D.C. shootings as a hate crime and an act of terrorism. One of the victims, 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim, was a Prairie Village native.