KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Saturday was a day of grieving for families in the metro with two funerals for children that have been murdered just in the past couple of weeks.
A disturbing trend of child abuse and death in Kansas City and now city leaders and people in the community are taking notice. On Saturday, the Jackson County Prosecutors Office released a statement, along with a list of recent cases, regarding the disturbing trend of child abuse and death which have occurred in the metro area of late.
“It’s like it’s happening to me all over again,” Marie Guinn said.
Guinn lost her granddaughter Angel Hooper in October. She was shot and killed in a gas station parking lot, after buying bubble gum with her dad inside.
“I thought it would stop with angel. It looks like it’s just an ongoing thing. It’s just one child after the next,” Guinn said.
Angel was the first of a devastating trend. She was shot and killed on October 17. A little over a week later, 10-year-old Machole Stewart was shot while inside her home. On January 4, seven-month-old Jaquail Mansaw was shot and killed. He too was inside his home.
Not even a week later, two-year-old Lorenzo Orozco was beaten to death, and the next day on January 11, 14-year-old Alexis Kane’s body was found in a south Kansas City water park.
That brings the total to five children killed in just three months.
“I cried with the people on TV. I sat on the side of my bed and I cried with them. My heart bleeds with them. I grieve with these people because we’re still grieving,” said Guinn.
And each time Guinn sees the headline, “Child Shot and Killed,” she says it’s like her wound opens up all over again.
“It totally breaks my heart. My heart bleeds because I lost my granddaughter, Angel. I can sympathize with the grandmothers, mothers, fathers…it’s all the same feeling. It’s hurting,” she said.
So Guinn is teaming up with community activist Alvin Brooks to form a group called “Speak Out Against Violence for Children.” She plans on inviting families that have lost children to walk the streets arm and arm to put an end to the trend she calls “wicked.”
“If we’re quiet, nothing’s going to get done,” Guinn said.
Guinn says she’s done sitting, waiting for the senseless murders of children to stop. She’s ready to make a change, and hopes her community joins her.
“Not just because of Angel, but because of all the children. Because they’re so innocent and they deserve to live,” Guinn said.
If you are interested in being a part of the group Guinn’s putting together contact Alvin Brooks at Ad Hoc at (816) 753-1111.
If you know anything about the recent murders contact the CrimeStoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
