On a Sunday morning, Gande A. Salamed, a 49-year-old male, arrived to open the El Mercado Fresco grocery store in the Hickman Mills neighborhood of Kansas City, a routine he had followed for six years. The morning of September 14, 2025, however, took a tragic turn when an interaction between several individuals in the parking lot erupted in gunfire. Just after 7 a.m., police were dispatched to the 6800 block of Longview Road on a report of a shooting.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Salamed in front of the grocery store, suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics to render aid, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Salamed, a husband, father, and grandfather, was a co-owner of the market and a beloved figure in the community. Raised in Puerto Rico, he was fluent in Spanish, which allowed him to connect with both his customers and employees at the authentic Hispanic grocery store. He was known as a hardworking and dedicated man who was making a difference in the South Kansas City area. His presence was a daily fixture at the store, where he was often seen sitting to the right of the entrance, monitoring the cameras and interacting with patrons.
As officers secured the area around Salamed, they were directed to the north side of the parking lot where they located a second gunshot victim. This individual, later identified as 17-year-old Delvyon Q. Carmichael, was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly before 9 a.m.
The Kansas City Police Department is investigating the double homicide, but no arrests have been made, and authorities have not publicly identified any suspects. Investigators have been canvassing the area for evidence, witnesses, and surveillance footage to piece together the events that led to the deadly shooting. In the days following the incident, a memorial of flowers and candles was placed in front of the grocery store as the community mourned the loss of a man who had become a cornerstone of their neighborhood.
