Gunfire erupted Wed Jan 22 at Crown Center Mall leaving six injured and currently no fatalities. The gunfire began around 5:45 P.M. on the lower level of the mall, and according to KCPD officers, the gunfire was a result of a dispute between two groups of people. 

Five of the six victims are in their teens while one is stated to be “at least 50” by KCPD officers, and all are being treated by nearby hospitals, and according to journalist Brian Niemietz at the Daily News, it is unclear if any of the victims were involved in the shooting.

According to Sam Hartle with KSHB news, police have identified and arrested the perpetrators and they are cooperating with the investigation. 

Following the shooting Mayor Quinton Lucus spoke out to the community stating, “Crown Center is safe in Kansas City.” 

In the press conference, Lucas also stated that shootings in the Kansas City metro area are a result of younger kids having access to firearms. 

“The vice president and I were able to talk about a few different, and I think, very important things: One, how do we make sure we’re advocating to get guns out of the hands of our young people,” Lucas said. “How are we making sure we’re teaching conflict resolution to more of our young people so you’re not having fights with teenagers spill over into shootings, whether it be at Oak Park Mall, Independence Center or Crown Center, or anywhere in our city, frankly.”