INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Police in Independence are investigating an early morning homicide in the 600 block of N. Peck Court. Officers were called out to a reported shooting at the Hawthorne Place Apartments around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Upon arrival they discovered two bodies. Both people, 20-year-old Ernesto A. Delahoz and 18-year-old Bradley S. Sartain II, had been shot.
News of the crime has spread quickly throughout the complex. Many residents say violent crime happens often at this property and they hope to see it stop soon.
“It scares me because one guy got killed over here not too long ago and I heard that and seen part of it, and I worry about it because I don’t go out at night here. I don’t because I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Vicki, a resident who has lived at the apartment complex for the past three years.
Some residents say they might consider moving if the violence continues to get worse.
On Saturday afternoon multiple police vehicles could be seen patrolling the property. Police have not released any information about a suspect or motive. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
