On the evening of September 29, 2020, Terrel Henderson, a 31-year-old Black male from Kansas City, Missouri, visited a Dollar Tree store located in the 1600 block of East 63rd Street. Shortly before 7:00 p.m., a disturbance began inside the business when Henderson allegedly became involved in a verbal dispute with the store manager. As the argument continued, a male employee of the store intervened in the conflict.
The situation escalated and eventually moved outside the store premises, where the confrontation turned violent.
During the altercation outside, the store employee produced a firearm and discharged it, striking Henderson. First responders arrived at the scene to find Henderson suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead later that night. The incident marked a significant tragedy for the community and the victim's family, including his sister Lakeisha Ridge, who publicly expressed her grief and frustration over the senseless nature of the argument that led to her brother's death.
Detectives from the Kansas City Police Department processed the scene and interviewed witnesses, including the employee involved in the shooting. According to police statements released in the immediate aftermath, the shooter was identified as a clerk at the store who remained at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement. Despite the fatal outcome, officers did not make an arrest at the scene, and no charges were immediately filed against the employee. Investigators noted that they were reviewing surveillance footage and witness accounts to determine the precise circumstances of the shooting, including potential claims of self-defense. As of the last available public reports following the incident, the case remained under investigation without a confirmed arrest or criminal filing against the clerk.
