Man to stand trial as adult in teen’s fatal shooting during KC’s deadliest year
A Kansas man who was in his late teens when he allegedly fatally shot a teen during the purchase of marijuana three years ago will stand trial as an adult, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday charged 20-year-old Taron D. Anderson with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in the death of 16-year-old Amir Moore, the second homicide of 2023, which would become Kansas City’s deadliest year.
Anderson was a juvenile at the time of the shooting. The Jackson County Family Court on Monday certified Anderson to stand trial as an adult.
According to court records, officers were dispatched about 8:10 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2023, to the University Health Lakewood Medical Center in east Kansas City after a gunshot victim was driven there.
Arriving officers found a maroon 1999 GMC pickup truck parked in the emergency room entrance with the passenger doors open.
Prior to the police arriving, hospital security had found a black Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine and 31 live rounds on the floorboard of the truck and secured it, according to court documents.
Officers determined that witnesses had driven the victim, later identified as Amir Moore, to the hospital, where he died from gunshot wounds.
A witness told police that a friend called and asked if he wanted to buy some marijuana. When the witness agreed, the friend showed up in the pickup, along with Amir and another person. All four, identified as Victims #1, #2, #3 and #4 in court documents with their names redacted, allegedly went to a park to smoke.
While there, one of the victims asked the witness if he knew anyone who wanted to buy marijuana, so he reached out to several people, including two people he went to school with, one of whom was later identified as Anderson.
Anderson allegedly provided an address in the 1600 block of East 77th Terrace in the East Meyer 6 neighborhood. Prior to arriving, one of the victims, whose name was redacted, took a handgun out of his backpack and put it on his lap. When they arrived in the pickup, Anderson and another person approached the truck, and Anderson allegedly asked to smell the marijuana.
As one of the victims turned to weigh the marijuana, Anderson said, “I’m going to need all that.” He then allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired six to 10 times.
After the shooting, the suspects ran off, and the victims drove to the hospital.
In January, detectives went to question Anderson while he was being held on unrelated charges in Belton. Anderson told detectives he didn’t remember much from January 2023. After asking for an attorney, detectives ended the interview.
Anderson was being held in the Jackson County jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond.
If convicted on the murder charge, Anderson faces between 10 and 30 years, or life in prison.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 2:49 PM.
