Community leaders tonight pleaded with the public to provide information to solve the drive-by murder of a 7-month-old baby in Kansas City, Kan.
Mayor Mark Holland and Unified Government 1st District Commissioner Gayle Townsend asked the public to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS with information concerning the shooting. They were joined at City Hall today by a number of local ministers and police officials.
Authorities said a mini-Metro Squad has been created in the case to investigate the murder.
Every child deserves to have a safe place to live, Mayor Holland said at the news conference. “This is a tragic event that shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
Police Chief Terry Zeigler said so far, only one tip has come in through the TIPS hotline and the Police Department already had that information. More information is needed, according to authorities.
The baby, identified as 7-month-old Jaquail Mansaw, was inside a residence with his mother when shots were fired from outside the building. The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, in the 2700 block of North Early.
Silence is not golden, Commissioner Townsend said in her speech. She said that those who have information need to come forward to get violent persons off the streets. In this case, silence will only lead to more senseless violence, she said.
Baby Jaquail was described as a happy child who had a good sense of fight, she said.
Whatever hopes and aspirations the baby’s parents had, now are shattered by a senseless act of violence, Commissioner Townsend said.
There should be no safe harbors anywhere for dream killers, she said.
While candlelight vigils may be comforting, “the real light we need is light that can be shed by persons who know what is going on,” Commissioner Townsend said.
Mayor Holland said what has happened is a cycle of abuse, where perpetrators threaten victims with further violence if they come forward with information. The way to break the cycle of violence, he said, is to put those responsible in prison.
Commissioner Townsend said she was making a $250 donation toward the reward fund for the arrest of the person or persons who were responsible for the murder. The reward fund is now $2,250. Mayor Holland suggested that anyone who wants to donate to increase the reward fund could do so by calling the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
