Kansas City gang members meet with community leaders to move away from violence

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) — More than a dozen members of gangs or street groups from the Kansas City metro area attended an event in an attempt to get away from the violence.

The Jackson County, Missouri, district attorney’s office said that on Thursday, Sept. 19, a group of about 15 gang members from the Kansas City metropolitan area listened to counselors at the Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center, 2525 E. 27th St., who offered them counseling and help to move away from a future of violence.

Law enforcement officials said this was the second call organized by SAVE KC, a local violence reduction program. A third call is planned for later this fall.

“We’re here tonight because we’re all concerned about the violence in this city,” said Curtis Wright of Urban Summit, who moderated the call. “I’m sure many of you are suffering from it. We want to reduce that violence. It’s had a huge impact.”

Wright encouraged attendees not to waste an opportunity to improve their futures and move away from violence. Attendees also heard from the commander of the Kansas City, Missouri, police department, who warned that the next group involved in a homicide would become a target for the department’s efforts.

The prosecutors’ office noted that participants at Thursday’s meeting had no pending state cases. Speakers included former gang members, family members of homicide victims and police commanders who vowed to take action.

SAVE KC leaders said the collaboration began in 2024 to implement a program that has already proven effective in reducing gun violence, particularly among gang or group members. Several KCPD commanders, including Police Chief Stacey Graves and District Attorney Jean Peters Baker, attended the second session.

Members reported that SAVE KC held its first telephone meeting on May 30. In the meantime, one-on-one meetings or personalized notifications began to be used among gang or group members.

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