KANSAS CITY, KANSAS: A 39-year-old auto parts dealer employee in Kansas City was arrested after he reportedly strangled a 23-year-old to death whom he thought was shoplifting from the business.
Carl R Kemppainen was taken into custody on Thursday, September 21, and charged with one count of second-degree murder, unintentional but reckless in the slaying of Diamond Steen.
“Make no mistake, it is law enforcement’s job to do the policing, no one else’s,” Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said in a Thursday news conference announcing the charges against Kemppanian.
What did the authorities say?
In a press release, the Kansas City Police Department said the incident occurred at about 6 pm on Tuesday at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store in the 4700 block of Parallel Parkway.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Kansas City, Missouri, NBC affiliate KSHB-TV, first responders arrived just after 6 pm and immediately found Steen unresponsive.
Emergency Medical Services personnel tried CPR but it was already too late by then and declared him dead there.
What did the autopsy report state?
An autopsy report stated that the victim's death was a homicide and the cause was strangulation.
On Thursday, the DA revealed few details about the alleged murder but did say that Steen’s “airway was completely stopped.”
What led to the unfortunate outcome?
Authorities said that the incident unfolded when Steen and another individual whose name has not been reported came into the store and were suspected of stealing multiple items, the Kansas City Star reported.
Steen and the other man were apparently confronted by store employees which led to an argument that escalated and became violent.
A video of the incident reportedly went viral on Facebook and TikTok, that showed store employees detaining the two men on the ground outside the store.
One alleged shoplifter was on the sidewalk, and the other was in the parking lot, although it was not immediately evident who was Steen.
Will Kemppanian's charges change due to victim's alleged shoplifting?
Dupree indicated the possibility was not likely when asked whether Steen’s alleged shoplifting would affect the charges brought against Kemppanian.
“The reasoning by which police were called out were brought to my attention. Part of that is still being investigated,” Dupree said during the news conference.
“If there was a potential crime that was being alleged, we do know that in this country, you still have to go to the court, and someone’s life cannot be taken," Dupree added.
The DA added that authorities are looking into possibly filing charges against three other individuals involved in the incident.
The accused was booked into the Wyandotte County Detention Center and released after posting a bond of $125,000.
