Family says man killed in East 39th Street shooting was planning to marry in October

A man who was killed in a shooting this weekend was planning to get married in October and was just two weeks shy of his 32nd birthday, his mother told The Star.

Dorron Blackmon, 31, was killed and another man was injured in a shooting in Kansas City early Saturday in the 2100 block of East 39th Street.

Blackmon’s mother, Twonta McKeithen, said Blackmon was the biological father of two daughters, DaMya Bradley, 7, and ZaNaeyha Blackmon, 4. He also left behind four stepchildren with fiancee Tanika Judie.

Blackmon and Judie planned to marry in October, McKeithen said.

McKeithen described Blackmon as a kind, laid-back person.

“He was a good-hearted person that loved everybody,” she said.

Life since Blackmon’s death hasn’t been easy for the family, McKeithen said. Blackmon had four sisters, a brother and a host of other relatives who he was close to, his mother said.

“It’s been rough,” she said.

Blackmon’s birthday is March 24, McKeithen said. He planned to mark the occasion by shooting pool or going bowling with family and friends.

Family members will instead attend his funeral.

“There are a lot of hurt people,” McKeithen said.

Kansas City police responded to the shooting shortly after 3:30 a.m. Saturday and found a man shot and in critical condition. He was transported to the hospital.

While at the scene, officers learned a second victim, later determined to be Blackmon, had been taken to a hospital in a private vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Kansas City Police Department or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477 (TIPS).

This story was originally published March 14, 2017 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Family says man killed in East 39th Street shooting was planning to marry in October."