On August 8, 2020, a violent double homicide occurred at a residence in Kansas City, Missouri, claiming the life of Kenneth Hanan, a 59-year-old White male. The incident took place in the backyard of a home located in the 11200 block of East 47th Terrace near the intersection with Sterling Avenue. Police officers were dispatched to the scene that Saturday evening after receiving reports of shots fired in the residential neighborhood.
Upon their arrival, first responders discovered Hanan and another victim, identified as 63-year-old Arlin Jones, deceased in the yard, both having sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
The events leading to the tragedy began when a suspect, identified as 40-year-old Kevin McClanahan, arrived at the property exhibiting agitated behavior. Witnesses at the scene reported that McClanahan approached the residence carrying both a rifle wrapped in a blanket and a handgun tucked into his waistband. Those present attempted to calm him down, but the situation quickly escalated. According to witness statements provided to investigators, McClanahan first used the handgun to shoot one of the men multiple times. He then reportedly walked over to the wounded victim, spoke to him, and fired another shot. Shortly after, when the second victim arrived and walked up the driveway, McClanahan allegedly used the rifle to shoot him as well.
Law enforcement officers encountered McClanahan at the scene as he was walking from the backyard toward his vehicle. He reportedly told the arriving officers that there were two people lying in the yard. Police took him into custody without further violence. During the subsequent investigation, detectives recovered two firearms and numerous shell casings from the area where the bodies were found. A witness who had been in the basement of the home later told police she had spoken with the gunman shortly before the shooting and that he had made threatening remarks about bullets.
Following the arrest, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office formally charged Kevin McClanahan with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with the deaths of Hanan and Jones. Prosecutors requested a cash-only bond of $500,000 given the severity of the offenses. The double shooting was part of a particularly violent weekend in the city, which saw several other fatal incidents within a short timeframe, prompting local officials to call for increased community efforts to address gun violence.
