KANSAS CITY — Police are searching for a group of up to five robbers who held up seven victims early Tuesday morning. All of the robberies happened just before 1 a.m. near Meyer Boulevard and Troost Avenue. Police call the hold-ups a brazen series of crimes.
“It was just one ongoing event and I think that’s kind of what makes it unusual,” said police Capt. Steve Young.
Three separate 9-1-1 calls alerted police to the crime spree. When officers arrived, they realized all were connected to the same group of robbers. In the parking lot of a BP gas station, the first victim told police he tried to run away from the robbers, but the group cornered him behind some nearby trash dumpsters. One of the robbers allegedly pointed a silver handgun at the man and forced the victim to hand over all of his valuables.
“We still hope that maybe somebody saw something and would come forward with the information,” Young said. “Right now we don’t have a whole lot of suspect information to go on. Anybody that was involved and has some information or was nearby, we’d love a phone call from them.”
Police say the robbers also approached three other victims standing outside their car at the same gas station and asked if they wanted to buy some drugs. When they refused, one of the robbers pulled out a silver handgun and demanded that, “they give it up.” Police say as the robbers ransacked their car, these three victims ran.
Two others came out of the gas station as this was happening. One of the robbers pointed a gun and tried to hold them up. Police say those two also immediately ran away and hid.
“A robbery isn’t that unusual,” Young said. “But for all these victims to be robbed in one ongoing event. And the victims weren’t really affiliated with each other. It seems that the suspects immediately bounced from victim to victim in rapid succession. That’s pretty unusual.”
It didn’t end there. Across the street at a Wendy’s restaurant, another victim was in the drive-thru lane about to place an order when at least three robbers walked up. One pulled out a silver handgun and forced the victim to get out of his car. The robbers then stole the car and several shots were fired as they sped away.
Police say there is surveillance video of the incident. Detectives may soon release it to see if the public can help identify any of the robbers. If you have any information that can help police call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.
