1 dead, 15 injured in Kansas City bar shooting
Kansas City, Missouri — One person is dead and 15 wounded after a shooting outside a bar late Sunday night. The suspect was killed by an armed private security guard at the venue, authorities said. The violence put an abrupt end to a celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs victory that sent them to the Super Bowl.
Police at the scene said the shooter opened fire at a line of people waiting to get inside. The bodies of a man and woman were found in the parking lot when police arrived, CBS affiliate KCTV reported. Kansas City police Chief Richard Smith said only the shooter and the security guard fired weapons.
Smith identified the bodies Monday as 29-year-old Jahron Swift, who is the suspected shooter, and 25-year-old Raeven Parks. Police said all the wounded were brought to area hospitals and at least three were in critical condition.
Few details, no photo. No mention of where he got a gun, and if he was able to legally own one.
Next we have a few more details:
2 dead, including gunman, 15 injured in Kansas City shooting
A 25-year-old woman was killed and 15 people were injured outside a Kansas City, Missouri, nightclub on Sunday night when a gunman let loose a barrage of shots before he was gunned down by a security guard, authorities said on Monday.
The shooting happened outside the 9ine Ultra Lounge, where several hundred people had gathered, many celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs' American Football Conference championship and a birth to the team's first Super Bowl in 50 years, said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
"We're here today because something happened last night that marred what was an exciting night, a euphoric night for the people of Kansas City," Lucas said at a news conference Monday afternoon. "First of all, this city will never stand for this type of gun violence. We will continue to try to stop it before it starts and we'll make sure that with any investigation we're bringing folks to justice."
He conceded the shooting mirrors "a problem in Kansas City."
"We've said a few times that it is an epidemic of gun violence. We're losing too many lives. We have too many people shot each year," the mayor said.
Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith said his department was already on high alert when the shooting broke out with extra police assigned to overtime shifts in anticipation of Sunday's NFL game and the spontaneous celebrations that broke out afterward across the city. The Chiefs clinched a spot in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1970.
He said police officers had checked the parking lot outside the 9ine Ultra Lounge in the southeastern part of the city less than a minute before the shooting started at 11:27 p.m.
Our greatest challenges remain even this morning in our community. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those whose lives were lost or impacted by last night’s mass shooting. Thankful security appears to have kept the situation from being even worse. https://t.co/vF4C2W4dCl— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) January 20, 2020
"This club had come up previously. We knew it was an issue at some other points of time in the past," Smith said, noting that a drive-by shooting occurred outside the club last week. "Officers had done a check of the parking lot and were less than a minute out when we received our first call. So we had just been there."
When officers returned to the club, they encountered a chaotic scene.
"We had hundreds of people fleeing both in cars and on foot," Smith said.
The alleged gunman, Jahron Swift, 29, of Kansas City, apparently had gotten into a confrontation inside the club and once outside, began shooting people who were in a line waiting to get in, Smith said.
Smith identified the victim killed in the shooting as 25-year-old Raven Parks.
"The security guard is the one who engaged the suspect," said Smith, who did not release the name of the security guard.
He said the security guard heard the gunshots and went outside and confronted the gunman, fatally shooting him.
"It appears he saved lives," Smith said.
Smith said it remains unclear how many of the 15 injured people treated at hospitals suffered gunshot wounds.
No shots were fired by any of the 50 officers who responded to the scene.
He said most of the people injured in the incident were taken to area hospitals in private cars. Officials said three of those injured were initially in critical condition.
According to police, a line had formed to get into the bar when the suspect started shooting into the line of people.
Smith said the motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
He said police have found no evidence that the shooting was gang related.
Lucas said the city's Regulated Industries Division will begin investigating the club on Tuesday to determine if the business has become a public nuisance. Depending on the investigation, he said the club owner could face a fine or be forced to close.
The mayor said the club owner is cooperating with police.
"It's incredibly, incredibly frustrating," Lucas said of overall shootings in the city. "Last night, was a night people have been dreaming of for 50 years. We don't need to keep having disappointments like this."
Note, the police did NOT stop this guy.
Now, who is this shooter? Some angry white Trump supporter, as we are told is the case usually? Nope! That's not the norm, and it's not the case here, either. Here is the guy:
Jahron Swift: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Jahron Swift was identified by authorities as the gunman in a mass shooting that left at least 16 people wounded, 1 fatally, at a Kansas City nightclub a couple hours after the Kansas City Chiefs won a spot in the Super Bowl.
The shooter also died at the scene. The shooting occurred outside at 9ine Ultra Lounge bar about 11:30 p.m. on January 19, 2020 in the 4800 block of Noland Road. You can see videos from the scene below but be aware that the language is graphic. It is not yet clear whether all of the wounded suffered gunshot injuries. The bar was hosting a Chiefs’ party.
It emerged that prosecutors dismissed a previous weapons charge against Swift because of a change in state gun laws.
Kansas City.com reported that the shooter “started firing into a line of people waiting to get inside” the club. The motive remains unclear. Jahron Swift was 29 years old and a resident of Kansas City.
Quinton Lucas, the mayor, wrote on Twitter, “Our greatest challenges remain even this morning in our community. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those whose lives were lost or impacted by last night’s mass shooting. Thankful security appears to have kept the situation from being even worse.”
The female victim is 25 year old Raven Parks.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. An Armed Security Guard ‘Engaged’ the Shooter, Police Say
In a news conference, Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith said the first call came in at 11:27 p.m.
“This club had come up previously. We knew it was an issue at other points in time in the past. Officers had done a check of the parking lot and were less than a minute out when we got our first call,” he said.
He confirmed that there were 15 injured but police were still looking into the extent of those injuries, including how many were from gunfire.
“No one fired a weapon other than the security guard and suspect. Police officers fired no shots at the scene,” Smith said. He said the shooting ignited after a “disturbance in the club…in the line waiting to get in. This incident unraveled shortly after that disturbance.” Police don’t know what caused the disturbance. The chief said he was aware of social media reports that people were cutting in line but said they haven’t confirmed that.
The guard was inside the club and “heard commotion. He went outside and that’s when he confronted the suspect,” the police chief said. Asked whether the shooting was random, the chief said he wasn’t sure.
On January 19th, at about 11:30 p.m., “officers were dispatched to the 4800 block of Noland rd. on a shooting,” police wrote in an earlier statement. “Upon arrival officers located one deceased adult female and one deceased adult male.”
Police continued, “As the investigation unfolded at least 15 other victims arrived at area hospitals. At this time 3 of those victims are listed in critical condition. An armed security guard at the business engaged the shooter outside of the establishment.”
They added: “We believe the shooter is the deceased adult male. The circumstances that lead to this shooting are unknown. Detectives and crime scene investigators will be collecting evidence and talking with witnesses to gather more information to see what lead to this shooting…The next anticipated information release will most likely be the ID of deceased victims once the next of kin have been notified.”
Police later identified the suspect as Jahron Swift in a news conference, which you can watch in full above. The security guard at the scene was “private security,” according to police.
2. Swift Had a Criminal History That Included a Weapons Offense & Video Emerged From the Scene
Swift had a previous criminal history. According to Missouri state court records, he was accused of unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) in 2017. He received three years probation and a suspended sentence for that charge.
In 2016, he received another charge for unlawful use of a weapon. However, according to Kansas City.com, prosecutors had no choice but to dismiss those charges because “Missouri legislators approved measures that permitted concealed weapons to be carried without a permit.”
There are also some civil cases and a paternity action against him. A court ordered him to pay child support.
Video captured gunfire and what appears to be people pursuing the gunman. Be aware that there is bad language in it.
Another video shows a man running while carrying what appears to be a wounded woman in his arms. “Are you hit?” a man says in one of the videos.
Another video, which Heavy.com has reviewed but is choosing not to run, shows the body of what appears to be the shooter in a parking lot.
The mayor declared himself “incredibly frustrated.”
“Last night was a night that a lot of people have been dreaming of in Kansas City … and why we won’t necessarily say that folks aren’t still happy. This is very disappointing for us. It’s heartbreaking for a number of things.”
He added, “There’s too much of this in Kansas City… I grew up in the inner city. Everybody’s tired of this.. let’s put a stop to this.”
3. People Expressed Shock on Facebook, With One Woman Calling it the ‘Scariest Moment of My Life’
People expressed shock on Facebook who were at the scene. “This was the scariest moment of my life. I will never unsee all of the lifeless bodies just laying there when we exited the club. 🤦🏽♀️ prayers the the victims families and friends, 🙏🏽” one woman wrote.
“I just seen a chick get shot in the head outside the door of the club. I’m sick,” wrote another man.
“It’s 2 dead bodies in the parking lot,” wrote another.
4. The Club Posted Earlier This Month That It Was Working to ‘Prevent Anyone’s Safety From Being Compromised’ But Police Say There Was a Drive-by Shooting in the Parking Lot Recently
On Facebook, the Lounge describes itself as, “Bringing fresh air to the Nightlife with great experiences and an even better VIP experience!” It adds, “Our mission is to bring a out of town experience to Kansas City Night Life.”
The night of the shooting, the lounge posted, “SECTIONS ARE SOLD OUT‼️‼️‼️ Early Arrival is Suggested 🥴🥴🥴🥴” The poster for Sunday night highlighted the Chiefs playoffs game and the sounds of DJ Rocky Montana.
The club’s Facebook page indicates it’s been holding similar events each Sunday night.
On January 4, 2020, the club posted that it was aware of “allegations,” but it didn’t elaborate.
“The club is aware of the allegations and concerns that have transpired during the recent days. We have deep sympathy for those that have been impacted, or feel as though they may have been victimized in any way. While it is not practical for our establishment to be liable for the hundreds of individuals that patronize our business, we are working countless hours strategizing, and formulating remedies to prevent anyones safety from being compromised,” the post says.
“We will work diligently to get to the bottom of any incident that occurs on our premises, because we genuinely care about our customers and it is the right thing to do. However, we do want to assure the community that the circulating story does not comply with the morals and principles of the 9ine’s ownership, management, and staff. Thank you in advance for your patience as we further investigate this matter.”
There’s no indicate that post bore any relationship to the mass shooting, however.
Chief Smith said in the news conference that there was a drive-by shooting in the lot of the club about a week ago, and police have received reports of other people indicating there were incidents stemming from the club.
The mayor said that the regulated industries’ director will “look at this club. Will consider whether it is a nuisance. Whether it meets those standards.”
5. A Witness Said Fights Preceded the Shooting But Police Said the Suspect Wasn’t on Their ‘Radar’
The chief said in a news conference that Swift was not “on our radar in particular, no.”
As for the security guard, he said, “It appears he saved lives. We know there were multiple firearms involved, so the security guard saved lives.”
A witness told KSHB-TV that fights preceded the shooting. She told the television station that a security guard fired a warning shot to stop a parking lot fight before the mass shooting occurred.
Chief Smith said well over 50 officers responded to the scene. “They did a great job last night. This was very chaotic. We had hundreds of people fleeing… it was a very intense scene to say the least,” Smith said.
So, this guy should have been in jail, from the sounds of things and wasn't. Gun laws aren't the issue here; bad behavior is the issue here. People cutting in line as an excuse to shoot? Assuming that's what happened? The problem is that some people think they can react with violence any time they aren't happy with a situation. Someone says something they don't like, does something they don't like, looks at them, looks the "wrong way", isn't the right color, holds a different opinion, whatever; it's an excuse to act like an animal. That's a problem with culture, not with guns. I wonder what the authorities plan to do to address that? Yeah, yeah, I know.
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