A seven-year-old Black / African American girl named Cariya Reed died on December 1, 2021, in Kansas City, Kansas, in a heart-wrenching act of domestic violence. The devastating chain of events began in the early morning hours at Welborn Park, located near North 55th Street and Jodee Lane. It was there that police responded to a report of a shooting and discovered Cariya's mother, a woman in her late 20s, suffering from two gunshot wounds.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. The man suspected of shooting her was identified as 38-year-old Keith Johnson, Jr.
Following the shooting at the park, the investigation quickly led authorities to a nearby apartment complex. As officers approached the residence, they heard several gunshots, prompting a standoff. Johnson had barricaded himself inside the home with Cariya and her three-year-old brother. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department's Special Operations Unit was called to the scene and deployed a robot to enter the apartment.
Once inside, law enforcement made a tragic discovery. They found the bodies of both Cariya Reed and Keith Johnson, Jr. It was determined that Johnson had fatally shot Cariya before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide. The young girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Miraculously, her three-year-old brother was found alive but critically injured from a gunshot wound. He was immediately transported to a hospital for medical attention.
The investigation into the incident concluded that Johnson was the sole perpetrator, and therefore no arrests were made in connection with Cariya's death. The motive for the violent outburst was believed to be related to a domestic issue, as all individuals involved resided in the same home. In the wake of the tragedy, Cariya's family created a GoFundMe page to help with the costs of her funeral. The community was left to mourn the senseless loss of a young life.
