By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

Police responded to a non-lethal shooting near the intersection of Independence Avenue and Denver on the afternoon of Monday, November 13.

Officers were called to the scene just before 4 p.m., after an apparent argument between six or seven teens led to gunfire. The shooting incident left one victim, identified only as a black male, down in the street. The victim was transported to an area hospital in stable condition.

At least nine police vehicles responded to the shooting, which occurred outside of the El Mercado Fresco grocery store on Independence Avenue. Officers reported that teen witnesses at the scene were uncooperative, fighting verbally and physically with police upon their arrival. No arrests have been made at this point.

Prior to the shooting, social media reports indicated that teens were fighting outside of Northeast Middle School. Though Northeast News has been unable to determine whether the incidents were related, Kansas City Public Schools Senior Communications Specialist Ray Weikal did confirm on Tuesday, November 14 that the victim was not a KCPS student.

As a result of the incident, Weikal noted that the district restricted access to nearby schools.

“I know that we did place both the high school and the middle School (Northeast High and Northeast Middle) in a no-entry status,” Weikal said.

Weikal added that KCPS is fully cooperating with KCPD on the investigation, and that both schools have received increased security.