On June 17, 2020, Deveon Earl Edwards, a 17-year-old African American male from Kansas City, Missouri, was tragically killed in a violent incident that shook the local community. The shooting occurred in the afternoon near the intersection of East 27th Street and Jackson Avenue. Police officers were dispatched to the scene just before 4:00 p.m. in response to reports of gunfire.
Upon their arrival, first responders discovered a chaotic scene involving a gray vehicle where three individuals had been struck by bullets. Deveon was found unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene, marking the city’s 88th homicide of that year.
Two other victims, both women, were also injured in the same shooting and were found inside the vehicle along with Deveon. They were transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition, though they survived the initial attack. The circumstances surrounding the triple shooting were not immediately clear to investigators, who canvassed the area for witnesses. At the time of the incident, authorities did not have a description of a suspect or a known motive for the violence. Detectives urged members of the public to come forward with any information that could assist in identifying those responsible, but no immediate arrests were reported in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Born on August 1, 2002, Deveon was a lifelong resident of the area and had attended Kansas City public schools, eventually graduating from the ARC School. He was known by his family and friends for his vibrant personality and creative aspirations; he loved drawing, dancing, and playing video games, and he held dreams of one day becoming a designer. He had worked at local establishments including McDonald's and QuikTrip. Deveon was survived by a large extended family, including his biological and adoptive parents, numerous brothers and sisters, and grandparents, who gathered to mourn his untimely death at a private service handled by Duane E. Harvey Funeral Directors.
