KCPD identifies young girl killed in shooting
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City police are investigating a deadly shooting from Wednesday night that left one young girl dead.
According to KCPD, officers entered a house near 33rd Street and Flora around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, where they found a girl with gunshot wounds who was unresponsive.
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The girl was identified as Kourtney Freeman, who was 11 years old and just a month away from her 12th birthday. Police said Freeman was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later died.
Police said she was hit by gunfire that came from outside the house. At last update, KCPD did not say that they had anyone in custody.
It’s also still unclear what led to the shooting but neighbors say the whole experience was terrifying, happening just before 10 p.m. on the city’s East side.
Neighbors say she was recognizable in the area – saying hello in the mornings while waiting for the school bus.
On Thursday, a blood trail led away from the home. Visible from the street is where police marked bullet holes at the porch with a front storm door shattered.
“I’ve been here 29 years and nothing has never… I mean, you may hear a gunshot here and there, you know? But nothing like this,” Gloria Johnson, who lives a few houses down, said.
“But when I heard them sirens, I knew they were coming here. I knew,” she said.
“Did you know it was the child at that time?” FOX4’s Jacob Kittilstad asked.
“When they brought her lifeless body out and they laid it in the grass, I knew. I knew,” Johnson said.
“It was terrible. It was terrible. I hear about too many shootings of young people – kids – in drive-bys. That’s what I assume it was, a drive-by. But I’m not even sure of that,” Mario White, whose sister lives on the block, said.
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Police have not yet given insight into what exactly happened at this home but Melesa Johnson, KCMO’s Director of Public Safety, said this death shocks the conscience and soul of the community.
“She was killed being a kid. Just for being a kid. And you’re right, people are firing these guns without any regard or focus or care about their intended target or who is around them. It’s unconscionable. I wish I had more to say apart from that the community engagement division is in touch with the family and is working with them,” Johnson said.
She said – in this moment – people should reassess how they contact police about gun violence.
“We can make that abundantly clear by calling the police every single time you see something – say something. That is how we can make it clear. And we can’t pick and choose when we do that. It has to be consistent and it must be swift and decisive,” Johnson said.
But in the neighborhood of the shooting, people say they are understandably disturbed and concerned.
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“First thing I thought about was I was glad it wasn’t my daughter. I mean, it’s got to be a hell of a feeling for a parent to go through,” White said.
If you have any information that could help police, you’re asked to call KCPD or the TIPS hotline.
