BREAKING – Two people injured in drive-by shooting at New Beginning Apostolic Church, 200 N. Bales Ave. 

Ryan Millan-Pulley
Editorial Intern

Officers, paramedics, and bystanders outside New Apostolic Church.

Two people were shot in a drive-by shooting shortly before 11:30 on Friday, February 27th. The church building, formerly known as Melrose Methodist Church, was the site of a funeral when the shooting occurred. A Kansas City Police Department Officer was also injured during this incident, but it’s unclear at this time how he was involved.

One eyewitness reported he saw a yellow Dodge Charger outside the church, doing loops around the block. 

The witness later heard three bursts of rapid gunfire followed by quick individual shots. The yellow Dodge Charger then sped off west down Windsor Avenue. 

The Northeast News will provide additional information from KCPD’s Media Unit as it becomes available.

UPDATE FROM NORTHEAST NEWS STAFF, 2:45 p.m.:

Shots fired outside a Northeast Kansas City church late Friday morning left a police officer and two attendees injured during a funeral service, according to the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.

The incident occurred just after 11:15 a.m. in the 200 block of North Bales Avenue, near St. John Avenue, while officers were working in an off-duty capacity inside the church.

Police said gunfire erupted outside the building and bullets entered the church.

An officer was injured during the shooting. At the time of the initial report, authorities said it was unclear whether the injury was caused by shattered glass or a bullet graze. The officer was treated at the scene and released.

Members of the congregation had gathered for a funeral when the shots were fired. Two attendees — an adult woman and an adult man — were struck by gunfire and transported to area hospitals with injuries described as non-life-threatening. A third adult male suffered injuries by unknown means that were also considered non-life-threatening.

Three KCPD officers exiting the church, one holding a rifle. 

No officers fired their weapons during the incident, police said.

The case is being investigated as an aggravated assault. As of Friday afternoon, no suspects were in custody.

Detectives and crime scene personnel remained at the scene canvassing for witnesses, collecting evidence and reviewing any available surveillance footage.

Authorities are asking anyone who was in the area and may have seen or heard anything to contact Assault Squad detectives at 816-234-5227. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

The shooting disrupted what family members described as a solemn gathering, adding another moment of violence to a neighborhood that has seen periodic gun incidents in recent months.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.