KC family that spoke out against violence now grieves for its own

For years, members of Charles Bolton’s family have carried anti-violence posters, prayed for peace and mourned the deaths of victims of Kansas City gun violence.

On Monday, his family received the same comfort and compassion it had offered others.

Someone shot Bolton, 37, to death early Friday inside a south Kansas City motel.

“It is devastating,” said his father, the Rev. Ronald Dean Birmingham. “We went to so many community events dealing with senseless killings, and for it to finally hit us in this way just brought reality to us.

“… We’re all still in a state of shock and we’re speechless.”

Police found Bolton lying in the doorway of a room at the Capital Inn, 6107 E. 87th St., about 2 a.m. Friday. He died a short time later. No arrests have been made.

His death was the city’s 12th homicide of the year.

Relatives said they are trying to figure why Bolton was at the motel. A father of four, he worked as a stocker at Toys “R” Us. Relatives thought Bolton was scheduled to be at work at the time.

When Bolton was a child, his father often warned him about people who could cause him harm.

“I tried to tell him how to stay away from bad associations and places that might jeopardize his safety, anything,” Birmingham said Monday.

Bolton graduated from Grandview High School and sometimes worked alongside his father and siblings hauling trash. Bolton was a jokester who enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his mother, relatives said. He adored his children.

Bolton loved animals and at one time wanted to become a veterinarian, said his sister, LaRonica Birmingham.

“I mean he could nurse any animal back to health,” she said. “He also took pride in helping others as well when he could.”

For decades, the Birminghams have taken to the streets to hold vigils and anti-crime rallies in an effort to curb violence in the urban core.

“I have always had a passion about stopping the senseless killing,” Birmingham said. “Ever since the kids were small, I took them to community events to be alongside Alvin Brooks, trying to turn somebody away from a senseless killing.”

LaRonica Birmingham said the family is coping with the unexpected loss.

“My brother Charlie wasn’t an angel, but he was sweet among other things,” she said. “My family will miss him dearly and will have thoughts, questions, as to why, why did this happen? But we do know that he is in a better place. I am sure he is laughing and joking.”

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 4:15 PM with the headline "KC family that spoke out against violence now grieves for its own."