On the night of September 22, 2016, a violent encounter unfolded in the parking lot of a drugstore in Independence, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. James L. Hill, a 45-year-old male, was outside a Walgreens located near the intersection of 23rd Street and Sterling Avenue when the incident occurred shortly before midnight. According to reports from the scene, Hill and two other individuals were approached by two teenagers who were armed with a gun. The pair proceeded to rob the group, seizing a purse and a cellphone during the confrontation.
As the suspects fled the scene of the robbery, Hill attempted to chase after them. During the pursuit, one of the teenagers turned back and fired a weapon, striking Hill in the chest. Emergency responders arrived and transported him to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Hill succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
Law enforcement officers from the Independence Police Department launched an immediate investigation, utilizing witness descriptions and a K-9 unit to track the fleeing suspects. The trail led authorities to a nearby apartment complex only a few blocks away from where the shooting took place. Police established a perimeter and were eventually able to take two juveniles into custody. The suspects were identified as 16-year-olds Tyrell Young and Keidren Robinson.
The legal proceedings that followed saw both teenagers certified to stand trial as adults due to the severity of the crimes. Prosecutors revealed that Young was the individual who fired the fatal shot. In August 2018, Young pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, and three counts of armed criminal action, receiving a sentence of 25 years in prison. His accomplice, Robinson, also pleaded guilty to the same charges earlier that year and was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the deadly robbery.
