Kourtney Freeman’s mom grieves daughter’s loss, pleads for justice
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The mother of 11-year-old Kourtney Freeman spoke to reporters two days after the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) released that a juvenile was in custody in connection to the case.
Freeman was shot and killed inside her home Wednesday, April 10th on Flora Avenue, just south of 33rd Street. That location is also where the Mohart Multi-Purpose Center is, where KC Mothers in Charge has its office.
KC Mothers in Charge helped put on the vigil outside the home just five days after the killing. On Thursday, KC Mothers in Charge Founder Rosilyn Temple was right next to Kourtney Freeman’s mother, Samantha, as she spoke to reporters.
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“So, what you all are single. That’s your all’s fault. Do better. Do better,” Samantha said about parents with juveniles getting involved in violence.
“Don’t just leave your kids out here reckless like this, like come on. This is out of control. When is enough going to be enough? Is it ever going to be enough? This is going to keep happening I guess.”
Freeman spoke to reporters with a picture of her young daughter in her hands and a button of Kourtney on her shoulders. Samantha Freeman said she found out about the charges against the juvenile boy from a text via her daughter.
“I’m just lost, confused, out of the loop,” she said.
Since Tuesday night when KCPD announced a suspect was in custody, Freeman says the only person she’s talked to is a KCPD detective. Wednesday, FOX4 learned the juvenile boy’s been charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of unlawful use of a weapon, and several misdemeanor assault counts.
“I don’t understand. How do the charges that they come up with like this? It should be the first degree,” Samantha said.
“I don’t know, whatever, the highest degree, like it was my baby. This had to be planned or something, because like, come on. I don’t know, I’m not certified, but somebody needs to do the right thing.”
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We reached out to the 16th Judicial Circuit of Jackson County to see if they had an age on the juvenile suspect accused in the killing. A spokesperson for them declined to provide one. In the meantime, Samantha has a message for prosecutors in the family court system.
“But come on, do better. It’s a baby. She didn’t even get a chance to do anything, to be whoever she wanted to be. Somebody needs to do better in the criminal justice system, probably everybody. I don’t know.”
Samantha says she doesn’t know anything about the juvenile boy. She has both an older son and daughter, and while she agrees the home was targeted that night, she says she doesn’t know why.
“But I believe it wasn’t one of my kids because my children are not out there in the streets,” Samantha continued. “They don’t know people. They ask me for everything. They’re not perfect. They’re not angels, but they know better. They’re going to come to me and ask me for whatever they need before they be out there wreaking up havoc or whatever or make somebody come to your house or follow you or find you and how they know where you’re laying your head at, getting your peace and tranquility.”
The suspect is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center at 26th and Holmes. A detention hearing for him is set for June 12th at that building.
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