One person is dead after a reported accident and shooting in Crossroads

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A dirt bike rider was left dead early Sunday morning after reportedly hitting a light pole at the intersection. Shots were also fired nearby at 1:30 a.m. on Truman Road and Grand Boulevard, sending one person to the hospital.

Police are investigating, but witnesses say the two incidents are related.

According to police, the driver was driving at a high rate of speed near the intersection of 22nd and Grand Boulevard, directly across from Western Auto Lofts.

“I’ve heard gunshots before, but not right outside my window,” said witness Jeremy Turlin.

Turlin was in his apartment at the Western Auto Lofts around 1:30 a.m. Sunday watching television when he heard a motorcycle and then gunshots.

“We hear motorcycles and stuff all the time. “I’ve never heard shots like that up close out here, so the first thing I did was, ‘Were those shots?’ and check on my girlfriend,” he said. “You know, she asks the same question and runs over here to see what happened and if anyone was hurt.”

When Turlin came outside, his neighbors told him they saw a motorcyclist shooting at an SUV driving behind them. They say they even discovered bullets lying on the street.

“We’ve spent the few years trying to figure out what else we could do because we’ve noticed even more car break-ins, more non-violent crimes, more and more broken glass, cars being broken into, I don’t know what to do.” said Turlin.

A second single-vehicle crash was reported at 22nd and Grand, resulting in the death of a motorcyclist, when police reported someone driving a red and white Honda motorcycle was speeding south on Grand Boulevard.

Western Auto Lofts residents have organized a crime watch to make their area safer amid ongoing crime. They are now demanding transparency.

“I think the more people who know about crime and things like that, the better,” Turlin said.

The case is active and ongoing as KCPD says it is investigating the connection between the two incidents.

Correction: *KCTV5 would like to clarify that the driver was riding a dirt bike, but neighbors were unaware of the difference between that and a motorcycle.

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