KC police vow crackdown on violent gang feuds

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- After several days of gang violence that saw police outgunned by men they were chasing, authorities have announced a multi-target campaign to stem the shootings that have left one person dead and 10 wounded.

At a news conference Thursday in the neighborhood where the violence is concentrated, Police Chief Jim Corwin linked seven shootings in the last nine days to an ongoing rivalry among small, loosely organized gangs.

"We've got a pretty good handle on who's involved in this, and we're going to continue to work on those angles," Corwin said.

Police believe the attacks began with a shooting March 2. On Monday, gunmen fired 50 rounds at a group of men outside a tire shop, killing one and wounding three.

The gunmen then sped away, firing at pursuing police before crashing their vehicle in a ditch. Officers arrested three men and recovered two .223-caliber rifles, one of which had two large drum magazines.

Also among the wounded is a woman who was shot seven times in the chest and torso early Wednesday. She crashed her car and honked her horn for about 90 minutes before someone in the neighborhood called police.

With the three suspects in Monday's daylight episode in custody, Corwin said his first goal is to identify the culprits in the other shootings and work with state and federal prosecutors to get them behind bars.

Corwin said more officers will be sent into the neighborhood, with patrol and tactical officers targeting the wanted individuals while also being a visible presence for law-abiding citizens.

Police also want to form partnerships with community leaders on solving the problems that make crime and violence attractive to some people, Corwin said.

In the ZIP code where the violence is concentrated, he said, there are 800 people on supervised probation.

"Many of them have been dumped back here with no job, no education," he said.

Kansas City's gangs are smaller than those in larger cities, police said. Members often change allegiances, depending on where they think they can make the most money.

"There's really no loyalty," said Maj. Anthony Ell, commander of the violent crimes division. "It's superficial and can be fleeting."

Gang members also fight within their own gangs, which also are called "sets," Ell said. He said several shootings last year were linked to an intra-gang feud involving older members of a set against the younger ones.