KC homicide

The Kansas City Police Department created an independent missing persons unit in 2023. Two years later, the department reports progress in its effort to solve missing persons cases. But many in the Black community say the numbers mask impatience and frustration over a lack of attention to cases that drag on for decades.

Kansas Citians are fed up with dangerous and reckless street racing and stunt driving, which led to the injury of one officer earlier this month. KCPD Police Chief Stacey Graves said the department has operations planned to curb it, and are working with elected officials to increase penalties for participants and spectators.

A surveillance video of Brady being shot point-blank in the parking lot of his Brookside restaurant last year was shown at a juvenile court hearing Tuesday. Brady’s family was watching via webcam from Ireland, and his wife sat in the last row of the courtroom.

So far this year, Kansas City has recorded 12 homicides related to domestic violence – which was the total attributed to the problem last year. There wasn’t a single contributing factor, but Mayor Quinton Lucas cited the large number of guns in the city.

Kansas City made a concerted effort to support unhoused individuals in the first major winter storm of 2025, Mayor Quinton Lucas said in an interview with Up To Date. But the mayor admitted the city isn't where it should be in its housing policies — including in building a low-barrier shelter.

Melesa Johnson, 35, will be sworn in as Jackson County's prosecutor on Friday. She says she will keep some of Baker's policies, tweak others and offer her own.

The homicide rate dipped to the lowest number in the last six years, said Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves. But the number of people who were shot and survived increased by nearly 12%, leaving hundreds of people with gunshot wounds.

Rosilyn Temple founded KC Mothers in Charge — a nonprofit that supports the families of homicide victims — 10 years ago, after the death of her own son. Through her grief, she found purpose by ensuring no family felt the confusion and loneliness she did standing at the crime scene.

In the final few minutes of a Kansas City Board of Police meeting where juvenile crime and juvenile victims dominated the discussions, Mayor Quinton Lucas teared up and left before the meeting ended.

Several Kansas City communities are calling on police to do more about crime, amid an ongoing spike in car thefts. Graves says more severe consequences are necessary, and having more space to house city detainees could help.

Police Chief Stacey Graves said she is frustrated that many teens charged with violent crimes don't face stiffer consequences. She made suggestions to juvenile court authorities.

Shaun Brady was a driving force behind Kansas City Irish Fest, and the chef who cooked everyone an Irish breakfast. While that was canceled Sunday, the traditional Mass paid tribute to Brady, who was killed Wednesday outside of his Brookside restaurant.