Police ask public to help with investigation
A shooting on Saturday, Sept. 18, cut short the life of a church volunteer and health care worker.
Lillian Vanettia Wallace Jackson, 62, was on her way home from a day of volunteering Sept. 18 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 417 Richmond, where she was an usher and volunteer. At about 4 p.m. she drove east on Richmond and stopped at a stop sign at 3rd and Richmond, according to police.
At the same time, a block to the north, at North 3rd and Franklin Avenue, two unknown suspects began shooting at each other, a police spokesman stated. As Jackson sat at the stop sign, her car was struck by gunfire, killing her instantly.
Kansas City, Kansas, police are asking the public for any information that could help with the investigation into the Sept. 18 shooting death of the 62-year-old Shawnee, Kansas, woman.
“Mrs. Jackson was a wife, mother, grandmother, friend and now, an innocent victim of violence,” Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Karl Oakman said. “She had spent the day volunteering at church and was on her way home when the reckless acts of two people took her life. Someone out there knows the identity of these suspects. Now is the time for them to speak up before another senseless act of violence is committed by these individuals.”
Any witnesses or persons with knowledge of this incident can submit an anonymous tip to the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or online at KCcrimestoppers.com.
Having attended Penn Valley Community College School of Nursing, Jackson was employed for 20 years at The Dialysis Center Inc., where she held various positions including dialysis technician and office manager, according to her obituary. She was planning to complete her nursing degree at a later time. She was planning to open a child care center after retirement.
At Mount Zion church, she was a member of the Courtesy Guild, Mission, the Usher Board, member of Sunday Church School Class No. 6, and served as chairman of the Annual Women’s Day in 2019 and 2021.
Jackson’s survivors include her husband, Curtis Jackson, Shawnee, Kansas; daughter, Veaneta Wallace of the home; special granddaughter, Amena Wallace of the home; sons, Terrence Rideau (La’Kesha); and David Rideau (Brooke); a brother, Eugene Wallace; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 417 Richmond Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Her obituary is online at https://www.thatcherfuneralhome.com/obituary/Lillian-Jackson.