Following weeks of gun violence, KC police board meets. Here’s what they said
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Board received public updates on multiple recent mass shootings.
- Kansas City recorded about 66 homicides in 2026, down from 84 in 2025.
- Investigators continue active searches for suspects including Oscar Sanchez-Munoz.
For the first time since a series of mass shootings and other high-profile violent crimes shook Kansas City, members of the Board of Police Commissioners publicly discussed the incidents on Tuesday and received updates from police and prosecutors on the ongoing investigations.
The discussion came after weeks of violence that included two mass shootings, a string of interstate shootings that occurred as fans were making their way to Kansas City Stadium for the FIFA World Cup match and a double homicide in Westport.
Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson opened the meeting by acknowledging the impact the shootings have had on victims’ families and the broader community.
“These types of incidents tend to shock and shake the safety of the community,” Johnson said. “Even when the data does tell us we continue to trend in the right direction, despite having a pretty rough week these past seven to eight days.”
Johnson said Kansas City has recorded about 66 homicides this year, compared to 84 at the same point in 2025, a decrease of roughly 21 percent.
Police Chief Stacey Graves told commissioners that investigators continue to pursue leads in the three mass shootings that have occurred between meetings.
“These investigations are actively ongoing,” Graves said.
Graves also addressed the search for Oscar Sanchez-Munoz, the man police have accused of carrying out the shootings on Interstate 70 and other roadways. She said officers and partner agencies continue to search for him and that “the suspect will be located.”
Despite receiving updates on multiple active investigations, commissioners did not publicly ask questions about any of the recent shootings.
After Deputy Chief Doug Niemeier offered to answer questions about the ongoing search for Oscar Sanchez-Munoz but said he could be limited in what he could share publicly, Board President Tom Whittaker noted that the investigation remained active and moved to the next agenda item.
Police accountability advocates say public questioning and updates can play an important role even when investigations remain active.
Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, said that it is possible police commissioners received information outside of the public meeting or understood that investigators could not discuss certain details publicly.
But she said police boards also have a responsibility to help reassure the public and encourage dialogue about information that can be shared openly.
“There should be at least a dialogue about what steps are being taken, what can you tell us, is there anything additional you can tell us?” Bonds said. “Even if that information is, ‘We can’t share any information right now for XYZ reason,’ that is still useful and helpful for the public to know.”
The meeting marked the commissioners’ first public comments since the shootings. All three of the commissioners at the meeting praised officers and investigators for their response to recent incidents and the ongoing FIFA World Cup operations, while emphasizing the importance of keeping the public informed as investigations continue.
Commissioner Scott Boswell said public communication becomes especially important following high-profile violent incidents and praised the department’s updates during the search for Sanchez-Munoz.
“When bad things happen at the expense of good people, the key is to communicate and I know in particular with the highway shooter, the department did an excellent job through the press, and both locally and nationally,” Boswell said.
The emphasis on communication follows criticism of the department’s response to the interstate shootings, when several hours passed between the first reports of gunfire and the department’s public confirmation of the incidents.
Commissioner Madeline Romious, who became board president during the meeting, acknowledged the recent violence while praising officers and civilian staff for their work.
“We are not perfect,” Romious said. “We strive to provide a safe environment to everyone in the city.”
Additional statistics presented by Niemeier showed nonfatal shootings have risen slightly above where they were at this time last year.
Niemeier said the city had recorded 164 nonfatal shootings through June 21, compared to 161 during the same period last year.
Niemeier noted that while homicides remain down overall in 2026, June has been particularly violent. The city recorded 19 homicides during the month through Tuesday, compared with 18 during the same period last year.
Major cases remain unsolved
Several of the recent high-profile shootings discussed during the meeting remain unsolved or have not resulted in announced arrests.
The June 6 shooting at an unlicensed after-hours club on Troost Avenue left nine people wounded. Police have not announced any arrests, but did say last week that detectives were nearing charges on a subject or subjects of interest.
A June 19 shooting near the 18th and Vine Jazz District left one person dead and five others injured. Police have not announced an arrest in that case.
Investigators are also continuing to search for Sanchez-Munoz, who police have accused of carrying out a series of shootings along Interstate 70 and other roadways that left one person dead and four others injured.
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said during a Fox News interview Monday that investigators believed Sanchez-Munoz may have been killed. However, Police Department officials haven’t been updated or told that the suspect is dead.
A double homicide at a Westport QuikTrip also remains under investigation.
