John Matthews grew up a block from where two men were shot and killed just before 6:00 Sunday morning. “Let’s stop the violence,” Matthews said. “Let’s love each other, you know? Let us love one another.” A man died in a yard near 59th and Swope Parkway. The other, who was found shot in the street, later died in hospital. “Here in Kansas City, we have to stop the violence,” he said. “Every time I turn around and look at the news or Facebook, we have some violence. Someone is dead. Mass shootings. We have to do better as a people.” A double homicide ended a deadly weekend near Swope Park. The first shooting death occurred Saturday morning near Blue Ridge and James A. Reed Rd. Officers responded to an injury accident. When they got there, they found a man shot and killed in the driver’s seat. Just after midnight Sunday, police responded again to another injury accident three minutes away in the 8700 block of Sycamore Avenue. This time, they found a woman behind the wheel. “This individual had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene,” said Capt. Leslie Forman of the Kansas State Police Department. In all, gun violence claimed the lives of four people in three separate incidents less than six miles and 20 hours apart. “We’re hurting as a community here,” Foreman said. “I know it’s easy to watch these things and think, ‘Man, I’m glad it wasn’t me.’ But you never know. We never know who’s going to get caught up in it.” Foreman said police do not believe the homicides are related. As of Sunday afternoon, police had no suspect information in any of the four shooting deaths. Anyone with information is asked to contact KCPD. An anonymous tip can be sent to KC Metro Crime Stoppers by calling (816) 474-TIPS. Copyright 2022 KCCTV. All rights reserved.
