On the evening of February 24, 2017, a gathering at a residence in the 2500 block of Bellefontaine Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, turned tragic following a dispute over misplaced personal items. Leroy Farris, a 56-year-old male, was present at the home where several individuals had congregated to socialize, drink, and play cards. The atmosphere shifted when an argument broke out involving another attendee, 44-year-old Tanya L. Starr.
The conflict reportedly stemmed from a disagreement regarding a set of missing car keys.
During the altercation, witnesses stated that Starr became involved in a heated exchange with a man in the living room. As the dispute escalated, Starr allegedly produced a handgun and began waving it while confronting the individual. Witnesses attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation, but the confrontation turned physical when Starr tried to strike the person she was arguing with. In the ensuing struggle, the weapon discharged, striking two bystanders. Leroy Farris was hit in the head by the gunfire, while a second male victim sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
Emergency responders transported both victims to Truman Medical Center for treatment. Despite medical efforts, Farris succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The second victim survived his injuries. Following the shooting, Tanya Starr surrendered to the police. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office subsequently charged her with second-degree murder, second-degree assault, and armed criminal action in connection with Farris’s death and the injury of the second man. Authorities noted that the charges were based on the premise that the homicide occurred during the perpetration of another felony, specifically the assault.
