On the early morning of November 6, 2020, a violent sequence of events unfolded in the West Bottoms district of Kansas City, Missouri, claiming the life of 43-year-old Floyd Freeman Jr. Freeman, a dedicated machine operator at Unilever and a passionate car enthusiast known by the nickname '2 Freeway,' was present at a gas station parking lot in the 1500 block of West 12th Street.
A known figure in the local automotive community, he was a member of the TWIZTED INDIVIDUALZ Car Club and was often recognized for cruising the city in his show cars. The gathering that morning, however, turned into a chaotic scene of gunfire that left multiple people injured and two dead.
The incident began when a suspect, identified by authorities as 27-year-old Juan C. Berumen of Kansas City, Kansas, arrived at the location. Surveillance footage later reviewed by investigators reportedly showed Berumen brandishing a handgun and initiating a confrontation with a group of men in the parking lot. Freeman, who appeared to be unarmed in the video evidence, was fatally struck by the gunfire. He was not the only victim claimed by the violence that morning; 37-year-old Margarita Paez, who had reportedly arrived at the gas station in Berumen's vehicle, was also killed during the shooting.
The situation in the parking lot quickly escalated into a chaotic exchange. As Berumen fired, shots were returned from another vehicle at the scene, striking Berumen in the leg. In total, two individuals lost their lives, and two others were injured in the crossfire. Police investigators recovered approximately 25 spent shell casings from the area, highlighting the intensity of the shootout. Berumen was wounded but survived the incident and was subsequently taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries while in police custody.
Following the investigation, prosecutors charged Juan C. Berumen with two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Freeman and Paez. Additionally, he faced charges of second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and three counts of armed criminal action. Prosecutors requested a cash-only bond of $500,000 as the legal proceedings commenced. Freeman was remembered by his community for his humor and his devotion to his family, leaving behind children and a circle of friends who knew him for his distinct presence in the local car show circuit.
