Eight shot, three fatally, in separate KC shootings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Eight people were shot, three fatally, in two unrelated shootings early Friday.

Police were called about 12:40 a.m. by residents in a south Kansas City neighborhood who reported hearing gunshots. When officers arrived, they found Jamal Moore, 20, of Kansas City, wounded on the ground. He was taken to a hospital, but later died.

Officers then found the bodies of a man and woman in a car parked nearby that was still running. Both victims had been shot in the head and were pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman was identified as Viola Sawyer, 40, of Kansas City. Her nephew said she had four children. The man was identified as Pierre Moreau, 45, of Marietta, Ga.

Police said neighbors reported hearing several gunshots, and described a dark-colored car seen leaving the area. Investigators said they had not found any weapons used in the killings.

Neighbor Pam Sims estimated she heard 25 to 30 gunshots before she went outside and heard people screaming.

Moore, she said, was "just a sweet kid who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Sims, 38, said she's frequently seen Sawyer bringing home food for her children.

"We're going to pull together as a family on the block and we're going to take care of these kids," Sims told television station KCTV.

Sims said Moore was a recent high school graduate. She said she remembered seeing him dressed up for prom.

Moreau's former wife, Karen Rhymer, of Marietta, said Moreau had four sons ranging in age from 3 to 13. She said Moreau was visiting Kansas City for his job with an apartment leasing company, and that she had spoken with him Wednesday.

"If you were a friend, there was nothing he wouldn't do for you," she said.

The second incident took place about 3:20 a.m. near an all-night eatery and a fast-food restaurant.

Police responded to a call from Chubby's restaurant that shots were fired in the area.

Witnesses told police that people in a sport-utility vehicle and a car exchanged gunfire in the parking lot of a McDonald's across the street from Chubby's.

When police responded, the vehicles had left the scene.

Four male victims from the shooting later arrived at the hospital in private vehicles. A fifth man called an ambulance from his home.

Police spokesman Sgt. Tony Sanders said Friday the injuries were not considered life-threatening. Sanders said the men ranged in age from 20 years to 30 years old. The incident remained under investigation Friday, he said.