In the late summer evening of August 23, 2008, a devastating act of violence cut short the life of 16-year-old Jazmine Nicole Stiggers in Kansas City, Missouri. A recent mother to a two-month-old son, Jazmine was full of life and happiness. That day, she had a final, poignant phone conversation with her mother, ending with an exchange of 'I love you,' moments before tragedy struck.
Around 7:00 p.m., near the intersection of 26th and Bellefontaine, a drive-by shooting occurred.
Jazmine was fatally wounded in the attack. Another individual, 20-year-old Lamont Curtis, was also killed in the shooting. In the immediate aftermath, there were promising leads and numerous vigils held in their memory. The community grieved the loss of two young lives, particularly that of a young mother who had just begun to build her family.
Despite the initial promising leads, the investigation into the murders of Jazmine Stiggers and Lamont Curtis has grown cold over the years. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the drive-by shooting, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case remains an open and unsolved homicide. Jazmine's family continues to hold out hope for justice, periodically sharing her story with the public in the hopes that someone with information will come forward. They are left with the painful memory of a life taken too soon and a lingering question of why. The Kansas City police continue to appeal for any information that could help solve this 15-year-old case and bring closure to the families of the victims.
