Murders mount in Missouri amid call for special session on violent crime

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By NewsRadio 1120 KMOX

(KMOX)-As his city heads towards a record number of murders, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is calling on Governor Mike Parson to call a special session of the Missouri legislature, to address violent crime.

After Thursday's shootings of two police officers and the city topping 100 murders on the year, Lucas wrote the governor saying, "We are at a crisis point in Kansas City and we need state legislative action on several items we have previously discussed to address our problem."

NEW: Mayor Lucas calls on Governor Parson to convene a special session of the Missouri General Assembly to address violent crime."We are at a crisis point in Kansas City and we need state legislative action." Full letter: pic.twitter.com/PAaHLqas1B

— Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) July 3, 2020

Three crime fighting bills, including witness protection legislation, stalled in this year's regular session.

A spokesperson for the governor says fighting crime has been a top priority since he took office.  She tells KMOX Parson has indicated there will be a special session, and crime could likely be a part of it.

Meanwhile, as of noon on Saturday, St. Louis had recorded five murders since noon on Friday.

The latest victim was found at about 11:30 Saturday morning in the 4600 block of South Spring on the south side.

An hour earlier, a man was found shot to death in a vehicle on Bittner off Hall Street, on the north side.

Friday's victims include 17-year-old Kevon Watson, who was shot in the head in a home at Geresche and Park, and 18-year-old Abdel-Majed Bander of Valley Park, who died after being taken to at a hospital after being shot at North Grand and Kossuth.

The first killing occurred during the noon hour Friday, inside the Quick Shop Market at Natural Bridge and North Taylor. That victim, a male, has not been identified.