By MICHAEL BUSHNELL
Northeast News
December 12, 2012

Police are continuing to investigate a shooting that occurred near Budd Park yesterday that wounded two 16-year-old boys.

According to police sources, the two boys were part of a group of three teenagers who were leaving the park and were confronted by a larger group of people near the corner of Chelsea and Budd Park Esplenade. A male in the larger group asked the three boys if they had a problem. At that time, one of the males in the larger group pulled out a shotgun and shot the two victims. The victims ran to a house in the 100 block of South Chelsea. Both were transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital, one with serious injuries.

Police believe the shooting was gang related. Indian Mound neighborhood residents living in the vicinity of the park have recently noticed a dramatic increase in criminal activity near the park, including new gang graffiti on a fence bordering the south side of the park allegedly announcing the return of a known gang member.

Anyone with any information on the shooting is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.