Marina
Detectives are back on Longview Road in Kansas City, Missouri, investigating a second deadly shooting of a teenager within just one month.
The latest incident occurred Saturday evening near Bay Water Park, leaving 16-year-old Ta’Kori Jones fatally wounded. The community is reeling, questions abound, and law enforcement is urging witnesses to step forward.
What Happened: Timeline & Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date & Time | Saturday, October 4 — just before 5:30 p.m. |
| Location | Near Bay Water Park, 7100 block of Longview Road, South Kansas City |
| Victim | Ta’Kori Jones, age 16 |
| Injury & Outcome | Arrived in critical condition; died hours later at hospital |
| Preceding Event | An interaction or argument in a nearby park escalated |
| Gunshots Heard | Neighbors reported hearing 3 or more shots |
| Park Status | Bay Water Park was closed for the season at time of shooting |
| Investigation Status | Homicide detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and seeking witnesses |
| Lead Contact | Tip-line: 816-234-5043; anonymous TIPS hotline also available with reward up to $25,000 |
| Prior Incident | Weeks earlier: double homicide at a nearby El Mercado Fresco grocery store involving a 49-year-old and a 17-year-old |
Scene & Investigation
Officers were dispatched to the 7100 block of Longview Road after reports of gunfire near Bay Water Park. When law enforcement arrived, they located a male teenager suffering from gunshot wounds.
Emergency responders rushed him to a local hospital, but hours later he succumbed to his injuries, and was later identified as Ta’Kori Jones.
Preliminary investigation reveals there was an “interaction”—likely verbal or physical—between multiple individuals in a nearby park prior to the shooting.
Witnesses say several gunshots rang out. Detectives are now combing through surveillance cameras in the area, canvassing neighbors, and asking for any cell phone videos or eyewitness accounts.
Investigators have confirmed that the park was closed for the season—but note that local teens sometimes gather at playground or basketball areas regardless of official hours.
The proximity to nearby residences, gas stations, and overnight parking lots may provide vantage points for capturing footage.
The Pattern: Another Teen Lost
This tragedy echoes a similar fatal shooting from just weeks ago in the same neighborhood. At that earlier event, two people — a 49-year-old adult and a 17-year-old youth — were shot and killed outside the El Mercado Fresco grocery store, not far from Longview Road.
While authorities have not yet confirmed a direct link between the two crimes, the proximity and timing have raised alarm.
Residents are now demanding greater police presence, more lighting, and faster response times. Many express frustration that neighborhoods once considered quieter are now beset by violence—or at least the perception of it.
Community Reaction & Calls for Action
Neighbors near Bay Water Park say they heard multiple shots that night, and many of them express fear. Some declined to appear on camera, citing safety concerns. Others have spoken out, asking law enforcement to “do more than investigate”.
Local groups such as KC Mothers in Charge have voiced heartbreak and outrage. They argue that parks should be sanctuaries—not crime scenes—and call for youth outreach, mental health investment, and community policing strategies.
With a $25,000 reward offered for anonymous tips leading to arrest, city officials hope someone will come forward with crucial evidence—be it a video, a name, or a vehicle description.
What to Watch Next
- Will surveillance footage or dash-cam videos turn up new leads?
- Will there be arrests or charges in the coming days or weeks?
- Will the police link this shooting to the earlier double fatal shooting at the grocery store?
- How will local leaders respond—more patrols, youth programs, improved lighting?
- Will the community cooperate by providing tips or being willing to step forward?
The return of detectives to Longview Road underscores a tragic reality: violence seems to be creeping closer to corners once thought safe. The death of Ta’Kori Jones marks the second teen homicide in the same vicinity in just a month.
Efforts to solve this case depend heavily on community cooperation, video evidence, and prompt leads.
For the families, friends, and neighbors, this is more than statistics—it’s personal loss. For a community shaken, it’s a pivotal moment: to act, to heal, and to demand accountability.
Until justice is reached and prevention steps are put in place, the shadow of fear looms over Longview Road.