KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas today released the following statement after Kansas City surpassed the all-time homicide record in one calendar year:

“We have seen 100 murders in Kansas City during all but seven of the full 36 years of my life. Almost 4,000 Kansas Citians murdered since 1984; all gone too soon. Too many of our fathers, brothers, mothers, and sisters have had their lives cut short due to violence. Although the trends nationwide have increased in the past several years, our problem in Kansas City has been with us for generations. 

“Change, however, can and must be made. Over recent decades, murder rates dropped in Richmond by 40 percent; Omaha by 50 percent; and New York City, by over 80 percent from 1990 to today. 

“Saving young lives, black lives, and all lives has to be a central goal of what we do each day as a city. I am heartbroken, but I resolve that by working in prevention and intervention we do not have to bury thousands more of our brothers and sisters over the decades ahead due to violence.

“Each person we’ve lost in 2020 was special, and my heart goes out to their families, friends, and all in our community touched by the pain: Cristobal, Rickey, Raidel, Patrick, Ronnie, Frank, Maije, Terrel, Keva, Tyron, Jalen, Daisy, Anthony, Roget, Linda, Christopher, Raymond, Shawndele, Tara, Andrew, Patrick, Jahmiere, Brandon, Lawrence  Jazmyn, Sage, Montez, Maxwell, Stacey, Jason, Derrick, Arlin, Kenneth, Michael, Henry, Antony, Briana, Deon, Larry, Shawn, Kyle, Chieynne, Lodiller, Diamon, Jayvon, Lewis, Sylvester, Marquice, Desimund, Billie, Michael, Charles, Pierre, Ky, Sharon, Darren, Valentino, Quindell, LeGend, Clyde, Romello, Paul, Jamie, Dejon, Marcus, William, Trinton, Matthew, Montel, Trevieance, Emmit, Ivory, Clarence, Marvin, Anthony, Destiny, Steven, Anton, Matis, Sarah, Victor, Tevin, Jevonte, Howard, Marvin, Jeremy, Scott, Carlos, Tyler, Cleveland, Michael, William, Charles, Mauricia, Terence, Frederick, Stan, Christopher, Kashawn, Anna, Larry, Martez, Daniel, Felipe, Monrico, Shea, Damen, Elijah, Travis, Montai, Gaklin, Thomas, Sammi, Stacey, Donnie, Barron, Michael, Manuel, Deandre, Joseph, Devin, Frederick, Devin, Devon, David, Antonio, Rolando, Kirin, Anthony, Derrick, Joshua, Christopher, Derrick, Richard, Lavance, Miguel, Phillis, Amanda, Chase, Jahron, Raeven, Bobby, Derrick, Tina, Georgia, Treshaun, DeAndre, Raphael, and Earl.”

Anyone with any information on any homicide or shooting in Kansas City is urged to call the homicide unit at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous tips hotline at 816-474-TIPS. Anyone who provides information leading to an arrest is eligible for up to a $25,000 cash reward.

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