A Kansas City homeowner who claims to have been the victim of multiple thefts took matters into his own hands early Wednesday morning.
Witnesses said a boy, thought to be a teenager, was shot at 5:15 a.m. between 27th and Askew. Police believe he may have broke into more than 30 automobiles.
People who claim to have phoned 911 about the break-ins wonder why officers from the neighbouring East Patrol did not respond until the shooting occurred.
From 24th and Bales along Indiana Park to 28th and Askew, Kansas City roadways were still littered with broken glass Wednesday afternoon.
At least 30 cars parked in front of residences still had smashed windows, some of which were temporarily covered with plastic.
Renee Willis-Hunter did not realise her son’s Dodge Charger had been broken into until he left for work about 6:15 a.m.
“He took his whole bag with his id, his social security card, all his credit cards in there, and iPad. He took $2 out, dropped one dollar on the ground and kept the other dollar,” Willis-Hunter said.
By the time her family noticed the theft, police had already arrived to investigate a gunshot.
A resident between 27th and Askew reported seeing the burglar around his truck and automobile, which had previously been stolen into. He did not want to be caught on video, but he claims he used a laser to scare away the intruder before getting clothed.
When he got outdoors, the young man continued to break into cars. He claims the burglar began threatening to shoot him and a neighbour. The homeowner shot the thief three times.
Police said someone phoned EMS at 19th and Cleveland for a shooting victim who matched his description and had non-life-threatening injuries.
“Can’t show no sympathy if you mess with other people’s stuff. That’s how it’s going to be,” Willis-Hunter said standing by a neighbor’s home with warnings on the door for thieves to bring identity with them for next of kin notifications and images of rifles.
Neighbours say FOX4 that they reported the break-ins up to an hour earlier, but police did not respond. Police said the answers to our enquiries about the timing of the 911 calls and their response are not yet publicly available.
“Got out here a lot faster and that could have been resolved a lot quicker and little man wouldn’t have gotten hurt. But it’s unfortunate that’s how it happened,” Willis-Hunter said.
The shooter was released after being questioned. It’s unclear at this point whether he will face any charges.
As for the victims, neighbours told FOX4 police that the thief’s car was laden with stolen stuff, and several of them have already recovered their belongings.
