In the bright daylight of Friday, March 13, 2015, in Kansas City, Missouri, 18-year-old Asaan H. Williams was fatally shot at Seven Oaks Park. The teenager was in a crowd near 38th Street and Kensington Avenue when gunfire erupted, striking him multiple times. Despite the public nature of the park, few witnesses were willing to come forward with information for the police, leaving the case shrouded in mystery. In the immediate aftermath, a neighborhood resident held Asaan as he died, a small comfort to his grieving family that he was not alone in his final moments.
The investigation into Asaan's death proved to be a difficult one for law enforcement. Shortly after the shooting, Kansas City police sought public assistance in locating a 2003 Chevrolet Impala that was seen leaving the area. However, this lead did not result in an immediate breakthrough. Asaan’s father, Haji Williams, became a vocal advocate for justice for his son, frequently visiting the park to maintain a memorial he built in Asaan's honor. Frustrated by the lack of progress and the reluctance of witnesses to cooperate, the Williams family channeled their grief into action.
In the year following the unsolved murder, Haji Williams and his family successfully lobbied city officials for the installation of surveillance cameras in Seven Oaks Park. They hoped that this measure would prevent future crimes and spare other families the pain they had endured. The cameras, costing about $90,000, were installed and dedicated in a ceremony attended by family, supporters, and city leaders. Despite these efforts and the passage of time, the killing of Asaan H. Williams remains unsolved, one of the many cold cases in Kansas City. His family continues to hope that one day, those responsible for his death will be brought to justice.
