In the early morning hours of August 30, 2023, Joseph Burns III, a 51-year-old man, was found shot to death in the front yard of a vacant apartment building in the 2900 block of Prospect Avenue in Kansas City. Police discovered his body in a fetal position around 5:30 a.m. after he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical crews arrived at the scene and pronounced him dead.
Investigators believe the shooting may have stemmed from an argument.
At the time of the incident, no persons of interest had been taken into custody, and the investigation was ongoing. His death marked the 132nd homicide in Kansas City that year. His family mentioned that he had been shot in the leg at the same location just a week prior to his death after another argument.
Joseph, known to his loved ones as 'JoeJoe,' was a father and grandfather. For many years, he worked at True Faith Outreach Ministries, a church owned by his family, where he was known for his engaging and humorous personality. He had a history that included a prison sentence for drug trafficking, being released when his daughter was 15. In the years leading up to his death, he struggled with drug addiction, which had reportedly worsened after the death of his mother four years prior. His daughter described him as a sweet and generous person, even during his most difficult times.
