South KC Perspective
By John Sharp
Elijaah Boston, a graduating senior at Paseo Academy of Fine & Performing Arts who family and friends said often encouraged and inspired others to overcome adversity, was shot and killed in south Kansas City while walking home from work, and police are seeking the public’s help to solve his senseless slaying.
The 18-year-old Boston had enlisted in the Air Force and was planning to begin basic training soon after graduation. Persons I have known for decades who were close to this young man have told me how heartbroken they are about his loss. They said he was a good student, worked hard at his job, inspired others and bothered nobody.
Police responding to a call about shots fired found him unresponsive in the street about 10 p.m. on May 5 in the 11100 block of Hillcrest Rd. still wearing his work uniform after he got off work at the nearby Taco Bell. He lived close by with his younger sister and his uncle, John Williams, a vice principal at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in the Kansas City Public Schools.
Anyone who saw or heard something that might be related to his shooting or who knows any other information about his slaying is asked to contact the Police Department’s homicide unit at 816-234-5043. Pretrial witness protection is available.
Persons who wish to remain anonymous should call the Greater KC Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information leading to an arrest or filing charges, and tipsters do not have to testify in court.