In the quiet stillness of a late Tuesday night, a tragic event unfolded in Kansas City, Missouri, shattering the peace of a Northland neighborhood. Just after 10 p.m. on March 26, 2025, a frantic 911 call pierced through the evening, summoning police to the area of North Bennington Avenue and NE 38th Street. What officers discovered upon arrival was a scene that would soon mark the city’s 31st homicide of the year—a young life cut short in a senseless act of violence. Inside an apartment building, 19-year-old Dewayne Toombs lay gravely wounded, his body riddled with gunshot injuries. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, clinging to hope as they fought to save him. But despite their exhaustive efforts, the clock ticked past 11:30 p.m., and the young man’s life slipped away, leaving behind a community grappling with grief and a police department determined to find answers.
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department (KCPD) has launched a full-scale homicide investigation, piecing together the fragments of that fateful night. Officers were initially dispatched following reports of gunfire, a sound that has become all too familiar in a city that has seen its share of violence in recent years. When they arrived, they were guided to the apartment complex by witnesses, though details of what transpired in those critical moments remain elusive. The investigation is in its early stages, with detectives working tirelessly to uncover the sequence of events that led to Toombs’ death. As of now, no suspect has been named, and authorities have yet to determine a motive. Was this a random act, a personal dispute gone horribly wrong, or something else entirely? These are the questions that hang heavy in the air as the inquiry presses forward.
Dewayne Toombs was only 19—a young man with a future ahead of him, now reduced to a name in a growing tally of lives lost. His death marks a somber milestone for Kansas City, which recorded 30 homicides by this time last year. The city has been wrestling with elevated levels of violent crime, with 2023 standing as its deadliest year on record at 185 killings. Though 2024 saw a slight decline to 147 homicides, the persistence of such incidents underscores a deeper challenge that continues to plague the region. For residents in the Northland, an area often considered quieter than some of the city’s more urban pockets, this tragedy hits particularly close to home, stirring a mix of fear, frustration, and a desperate call for change.
Police are casting a wide net for evidence, combing through the crime scene and canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses who might hold the key to unlocking this case. The apartment building where Toombs was found has become a focal point, its walls now silent witnesses to a violent end. Investigators are meticulously gathering physical evidence—shell casings, surveillance footage, anything that might shed light on the shooter’s identity or the moments leading up to the attack. Yet, they acknowledge that the community’s help is vital. The KCPD has issued a public plea, urging anyone with information to step forward. Homicide detectives can be reached directly at 816-234-5043, a number that represents a lifeline to justice for Toombs and his loved ones.
For those hesitant to come forward, perhaps out of fear or uncertainty, the department has emphasized the option of anonymity. The Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers offers a hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477), as well as an online portal at kc-crime.org, where tips can be submitted without ever revealing one’s identity. A reward of up to $25,000 awaits those whose information leads to an arrest—a small but tangible incentive in the face of such a profound loss. This system has proven effective in the past, giving voice to the reluctant and helping to close cases that might otherwise remain unsolved.
As the investigation unfolds, the city watches and waits, hoping for resolution in a case that has already left an indelible mark. The death of Dewayne Toombs is not just a statistic; it’s a stark reminder of the human cost of violence—a young man who will never see his 20th birthday, a family forever altered, and a community left to mourn. The KCPD remains steadfast in its mission, driven by a commitment to protect and serve, even as it confronts the harsh realities of a city in need of healing. For now, the streets of North Bennington Avenue and NE 38th Street bear the weight of an unresolved tragedy, their silence broken only by the distant echo of a call for justice.