Kansas City investigates short-term rental, site of mass shooting that killed teen
A Kansas City short-term rental that was the site Saturday night of mass shooting — one that killed a teenager and wounded five other people — is now facing city scrutiny.
Santino Gonzalez, who had just turned 17 in January, died from gunshot wounds Saturday night, after being shot at a home in the 4900 block of College Avenue. Police sped to the house at about 10:30 p.m. Their investigation later found that the home, a short-term rental property, was the site of a gathering.
A fight broke out. Shots were fired inside. Two women, two teenage boys and two teenage girls were struck by gunfire. Although paramedics worked to save Gonzalez, he was unresponsive when they arrived. He died later that night at a local hospital.
Although police have received tips and are following leads, as of Tuesday midday, no arrests have been made in the case. Because the home is registered as a short-term rental, city inspectors are now looking “to assess whether the owner exhibited negligence or contributed to any threat to public safety.”
“Kansas City is deeply saddened over the tragic shooting that took place this past weekend,” Lanè Johnson, public information officer for city’s neighborhood services department, said in a written statement. “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those who were injured in this devastating event.
“The residence involved is a registered Short-Term Rental and an investigation is currently underway.”
Short-term rental penalties
The investigation comes four months from the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when as many as 650,000 fans are expected to descend on Kansas City for the month-long tournament, with thousands anticipated to stay in short-term rentals.
Under the city’s registration rules, Johnson notes, short-term rentals are limited to a maximum of eight guests and parties are strictly prohibited. Potential penalties by city ordinance include:
- A one-year ban in which the property is removed from the city’s approved short-term rental list and is barred from re-registering for one year if any violations of city, state or federal laws occur during the rental period resulting in harm to public health, safety or neighborhood welfare.
- A three-year ban, should the rental receive three or more violations that significantly impact public health, safety or neighborhood welfare. The property is to be removed from the approved list and prohibited from re-registering for three years.
The Star’s attempts to contact the property’s listed owner were unsuccessful. City records show that the home has received no recent city code violations. The property was added to the city’s approved short-term rental list first in March 2024 and then again in October 2025.
The property currently cannot be found on either Airbnb or Vrbo. Neighbors have told local media that the property is often the site of pop-up parties.
Teen to be honored
On Monday, in honor of Gonzalez, The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, formerly the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, said it will memorialize Santino by planting a tree in the Mark Twain National Forest as a tribute to his life and a symbol of the urgent need to address youth gun violence nationwide.
The organization, formed after the May 2022 mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, will also offer a reward of up to $5,000 through its Crimes Against Students initiative for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Santino’s killing.
“Seventeen years old is far too young,” Daniel Chapin, founder of the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, said in the news release. “Every time gunfire erupts at gatherings meant for connection and friendship, entire communities are shaken. Santino’s life mattered, and his memory deserves to stand in a place of peace.”
Anyone with information about the homicide can call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS (8477). Tips submitted anonymously to the hotline may be eligible for a reward of up to $25,000.
The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton contributed reporting to this story.
