A 15-year-old boy was killed in a potential road rage shooting in Kansas City, resulting in a Grandview man being charged with second-degree murder and other offenses. The suspect, Keith D. Adkins, shot at a Kia Sportage, causing it to crash into a pole. Another shooting victim was found nearby, and surveillance footage captured the incident. Adkins was later apprehended after a high-speed police chase. The incident marks Kansas City’s 160th homicide of 2023. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Anna Spoerre reported
A 15-year-old boy was tragically killed in what appears to be a road rage shooting in Kansas City. The suspect, Keith D. Adkins, a 32-year-old man from Grandview, is now facing multiple charges including second-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, tampering with a motor vehicle, and armed criminal action, according to a news release from the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. on Friday when police received a report of a shooting in the 6000 block of East 13th Street. Upon arrival, officers found the victim, later identified as Aaron Amparan, lying in the street near a Kia Sportage that had crashed into a pole. Amparan had sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital, but sadly succumbed to his injuries.
A second shooting victim was also discovered behind a nearby home. The surveillance footage from the area captured the events leading up to the shooting. At approximately 5:57 p.m., the driver of the Kia Sportage, in which Amparan was a passenger, was traveling southbound on White Avenue. Suddenly, Adkins, driving a Silverado truck with a female passenger, abruptly stopped, forcing the Kia to swerve to the right side of the road to avoid a collision.
The video footage then showed Adkins leaning out of the truck’s window, shouting profanities, and firing two shots at the Kia before it crashed into a parked truck and ultimately collided with a pole at the intersection of 13th Street. The surviving shooting victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, told the police that a blacked-out truck appeared out of nowhere and began shooting. They believed that Adkins wanted them to move over as the Kia was obstructing the road.
Upon further investigation, two shell casings and a handgun were found at the scene. Authorities later discovered that the truck Adkins was driving had been stolen. They spotted him and his female passenger in a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe, close to the crime scene, but were unsuccessful in pulling them over.
A subsequent encounter with Adkins occurred on Sunday when he was spotted speeding and driving recklessly in Kansas City. Adkins led officers on a high-speed chase into Independence, reaching speeds of up to 108 miles per hour. He ran multiple red lights and narrowly avoided collisions with other vehicles before the pursuit ended when the tires of the stolen Hyundai failed. Adkins attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by the police.
Adkins is currently being held on a cash bond of $500,000. The tragic killing of Amparan marks the 160th homicide in Kansas City in 2023, according to data maintained by The Star. The Kansas City Police are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact homicide detectives or call the TIPS Hotline anonymously.
The devastating loss of Aaron Amparan has left his family and friends grieving. In an emotional statement, Amparan’s sister described him as a quiet, loving, and caring young man. In an effort to assist with burial expenses, a GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family during this challenging time..