House Explosion and Shooting in South Kansas City

KMBC ^

[gura]

House Explodes In South KC Police Search For Shooter

POSTED: 4:05 pm CST February 23, 2004 UPDATED: 5:13 pm CST February 23, 2004

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --

House Explodes In South KC

Two homes are burning at this hour in south Kansas City. One home burned to the ground, and the second home exploded.

The fires are burning on Grandview Road just north of Bannister Road. KMBC's Johnny Rowlands reported that a serious explosion may have been caused by a propane tank in one of the homes. The explosion sent debris flying into the air at least 1,000 feet, Rowlands said. Police said rubble landed five blocks away from the home.

Fire Battalion 107 was the first to arrive at the scene, and quickly came under fire from an unknown shooter, KMBC's Maria Antonia reported. The 12 firefighters called for help, and police and additional emergency crews were sent to the scnee. According to Chief Germane Friends, none of the firefighters were injured.

Slideshow

View Images From Scene

Images Of Explosion, Search

Police said there were shots fired from the woods near one of the homes. Officers were seen crouching behind vehicles with guns drawn. No emergency or fire workers appeared to approach the house despite intense flames, apparently because of the shooting.

A female paramedic was apparently injured before the explosion. She was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Her identity has not been released.

Police have cordoned off the area while they search for the shooter. Bannister Road was shut down at highway 71, which was causing backups in the area. Officers are patrolling the area on foot and in armored vehicles.

Officers evacuated people from several homes in the neighborhood by placing them in armored vehicles and driving residents from the scene.

Some parents who have students at Santa Fe Elementary school will need to pick their children up because of the situation, KMBC reported. Students who ride buses eight and 18 need to be picked up at the school, which is located at 8980 Old Santa Fe Road.

[gura]

I saw this puppy explode as I was leaving work and it was quite the sight. Reports now are that the homeowner had a large store of ammunition in the house and you could hear cooking off right after the explosion.

[Xenalyte]

Today's phrase, kids, is "meth lab." Can you say "meth lab"? I knew you could.

[gura]

That was my first thought too. Evidently there was another explosion after the one I saw, so one was reportedly the propane tank, the other being ammo or the meth lab.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Obviously a concealed-carry license holder gone nuts. I told you so!

Oh, they haven't issued any concealed-carry licenses yet? Oh... never mind.

[Poohbah]

Them blowed up good. Them blowed up REAL good!

[cmsgop]

Is this house in a bad part of town?

[xrp]

Holy crap, that's right near me, I'm in Overland Park!

[Riley]

Oh, they haven't issued any concealed-carry licenses yet? Oh... never mind.

Sounds like one of those concealable snubby eight-inch howitzers, from the description.

[kcpopps]

reports say that a female paramedic was shot while responding at scene. Traffic chopper reports that debris flew higher in the air than his flying altitude. Police are searching for white man who fled scene - maybe into a wooded area

Police are looking for this "person of interest"
white male
Donin Wright
white male
62 years old
300 lbs

[gura]

It's not a good part of town. Hopping out of my car to run into work at the Bannister Federal Complex is a little like the opening of Saving Private Ryan.

One day I walked out to my car only to find a young black male beating a homeless guy with the Metro Bus sign because he evidently wouldn't stop asking him for change. :-)

[cmsgop]

LOL! Get Outa There, Kabul sounds safer......

[kcpopps]

heard one TV news reporter say that the man was armed and "capable of great violence". The police have yet to release any official statement so that is obviously jumping to a conclusion.

The home owner is a 300 lb 62 yr old white male. I think they will find his body in the rubble and the paramedic who was shot was hit by ammunition going off in the fire after the explosion

Police are making a statement now -

[TroutStalker]

Probably the ATF. They like to burn em out.

[Stellar Dendrite]

i was wondering what that was!!! i saw it!! i was driving home from work and off in the distance i saw a huge smoke cloud rising up....then looked down and this house on the side of a hill was going up in flames.

that area isn't the greatest, but it isn't the worst that kansas city has to "offer", either....

[Imal]

Sounds like quite a day over there.

[CarolAnn]

They interviewed a lady who lives just a few doors down on the radio. They are covering it non stop.

My first impression was that maybe someone was covering up a crime and the fire department got there just a little too soon. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't find a body in there. Not just the shooter's (if he's still there.)

[Atlas Sneezed]

Regarding small arms ammo cooking off, it is important to note that it will merely make "pop-pop-pop" noises, but will not "explode" in a batch, nor will (unchambered) cooking off rounds expel lethal projectiles. A noisy fire, basically.

[Atlas Sneezed]

It's not a good part of town. Hopping out of my car to run into work at the Bannister Federal Complex is a little like the opening of Saving Private Ryan.

---

LOL! THAT is one powerful image you paint!

[kcpopps]

heh - we all know that's right - especially when it's a gun collector with "stockpiles" of ammunition.

So a 62 year old man, well over 300 lbs... it's hard to imagine that he could flee the scene on foot and elude capture this long by the swarms of police. He must be dead already...

One helluva bang though!

[BluSky]

Holy Cow! Shots fired!

Do these paramedics and police responders earn their pay or what!?