Kansas City bomb and arson launch investigation of house fire may be connected to fatal shooting

Kansas City bomb and arson detectives are investigating a fire that damaged a house early Friday near where a 17-year-old boy was found fatally shot earlier this week.

The fire in the 6800 block of Monroe Avenue was reported around 7 a.m. Authorities have not determined how the fire started. Police ask that motorists and pedestrians stay away from the area while their investigation remains underway.

Kansas City homicide detectives also are working to determine whether the fire is connected to the killing of Treshaun Hawkins, who was found shot to death Wednesday inside a residence at 68th Street and Monroe Avenue.

On Wednesday, officers patrolling the area heard what appeared to be gunfire and began investigating. Police also received multiple 911 calls.

The officers were directed to a home in the 6800 block of Monroe Avenue, where they found Hawkins, who had been shot.

No arrests have been made, and police had no suspect information.

Hawkins’s killing occurred several hours after DeAndre Chiney, 21, was found fatally shot and a child was injured outside an apartment in the 2000 block of Wheeling Avenue.

Witnesses from that shooting told police the killing likely stemmed from an argument that happened in front of the residence between Chiney and another person.

Police on Friday said they are investigating whether the two shootings were connected.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 10:56 AM.