By MICHAEL BUSHNELL
Northeast News
June 22, 2012

Police responded to a shooting near St. John Avenue and Oakley around 10:30 p.m. June 21.

Upon arrival they learned that a man in the back of a pick-up truck had been shot. The driver of the truck fled and was located by police near Independence Boulevard and Gladstone Boulevard. An ambulance transported the victim to an area hospital where he later died.

According to relatives of the victim, 22-year-old Donnie Maxey was walking on St. John Avenue near Topping when he was shot once in the lower abdomen. The victim then called his brother on a cell phone telling him he’d been shot. The brother arrived on the scene and transported the victim to an area near Independence Boulevard and Gladstone where police and ambulance crews allegedly intercepted the brother’s vehicle. Maxey was then transported to the hospital.

Neighbors in the area reported hearing one shot that sounded like a firecracker, then what sounded like an “ugh.” Neighbors also reported a crowd of people gathering around a lighter colored minivan parked on Topping, just north of the crosswalk at St. John and Topping, immediately after the shooting.

Detectives were back in the area this morning continuing their investigation. Police have no suspect information at this time. Anyone with any information regarding this crime is asked to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.