Family mourns KCK shooting victim as his father recovers in hospital

The cousin of a young Kansas City, Kan., man killed in a Saturday afternoon shooting remembered his relative as a quiet, thoughtful soul during a phone interview Sunday.

“He was known for being humble and he always asked for advice on life and what he could do to make himself better,” said Jermaine Mitchell, who arrived at the scene shortly after the Kansas City, Kan., shooting that took the life of 21-year-old Len Mitchell Jr., and left his father, Len Mitchell Sr., hospitalized.

Officials have declined to release the names of the victims, but Jermaine Mitchell identified them in an interview with The Star.

Mitchell also said that police had alerted the family that a suspect in the case had been arrested, though neither the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department nor the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office would confirm an arrest.

The father and son were at the home of a family friend in the 1800 block of Rowland Avenue at around 3 p.m. Saturday when an individual opened fire, witnesses said.

Len Mitchell Jr. was pronounced dead that day. His father is being treated at an area hospital, according to Jermaine Mitchell.

“He’s still in ICU, but he’s stable and able to talk, and they seem to have gotten him through surgery,” Jermaine Mitchell said.

Len Mitchell Jr., who graduated from Schlagle High School, enjoyed sports, according to Jermaine Mitchell. He had lost his mother to illness at an early age and spent part of his life in Nevada.

On Sunday, as Len Mitchell Sr. remained in the hospital, the family grappled with the weekend’s tragic events.

Said Jermaine Mitchell, “It was just a big shock to us.”

The family has set up a donation page in Len Mitchell Jr.’s name on the website gofundme.com.

This story was originally published March 8, 2015 at 10:10 PM with the headline "Family mourns KCK shooting victim as his father recovers in hospital."