In the early hours of a Wednesday morning in Wichita, Kansas, the life of Kamilu Boyede, a 50-year-old Black/African American man, came to a tragic end. On November 25, 2020, neighbors in the 600 block of South Ida grew concerned. They had heard what sounded like gunshots sometime after midnight, but no call was made to the police at that time. Later that morning, around 11 a.m., a neighbor noticed that the front door to Boyede’s home was ajar and promptly alerted the authorities.
When officers arrived, they discovered Boyede inside, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the shooting was not a random act of violence and that Boyede was specifically targeted. The incident was thought to have occurred sometime between midnight and 3 a.m. In the immediate aftermath, witnesses reported seeing a male suspect fleeing the scene, described as being in his late 20s or early 30s with a medium build, wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. Despite a search of the area, the individual was not located. The Wichita Police Department continues to investigate the case, which is now listed as an unsolved homicide.
The community remembered Kamilu Boyede as a kind and hardworking man with a gregarious personality. Known for his love of working on cars, which was also his livelihood, he was described as a mentor by a young neighbor with whom he often chatted about cars and life. Following the recent death of his wife a few months prior, Boyede had become a faithful attendee at The Books of Acts Tabernacle of Praise. His pastor recalled how he would proudly correct her pronunciation of his last name with his Nigerian accent and how helpful he was in any way he could be. He was a proud family man who, just the Sunday before his death, had brought his whole family to church, wrapping his arms around them with pride. His stepdaughter remembered him as "hella cool" and someone who mostly kept to himself.
