Kansas City Mother of Six Killed in Tragic Shooting at House Party
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A Kansas City, Missouri mother of six was fatally shot at a house party on Monday night, just days before Thanksgiving. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the West Bluff Townhomes on West Bluff Drive. Upon arrival, officers learned two shooting victims had left the scene in a car. Shortly after, additional officers found the car near Ceaser Chavez Avenue, discovering two women with gunshot wounds, according to KCTV5.
The Kansas City Housing Authority confirmed the shooting occurred during a party attended by residents from three apartment units. What began as a social gathering escalated into violence, culminating in gunfire. Among the victims were 26-year-old Michelle Donato and her mother. Tragically, Donato succumbed to her injuries, leaving behind six children.
Her mother survived and has since been released from the hospital. “West Bluff is typically a very quiet neighborhood,” said Edwin Lownds, executive director of the Kansas City Housing Authority. “The families that reside here are very good people, and when you have an incident like this that escalates into violence, it is really shocking to just about everyone here.”
Neighbors were left shaken by the tragedy. Kimberly, a resident, expressed her sorrow: “She and her kids always looked fine. She always had her kids outside playing. Everybody would play with her kids. She can’t even spend Thanksgiving with her kids. That’s sad.”
The Housing Authority, which oversees the 99 families living in the West Bluff Townhomes, provided on-site support and counseling services for affected residents. Neighbors recalled the chaos of the night. “You could hear the different shots,” said Lee Slaughter, another resident. “I knew something happened, but I didn’t expect all of this to happen.”
Donato’s mother is now expected to step in to care for her grandchildren. Neighbor Anna Thierry shared condolences: “I feel bad that your kids gotta go through this.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact Homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for tips leading to an arrest. This devastating loss has left the community mourning as Donato’s family faces the holidays without her.
