Don’t Shoot

By John Sharp

Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson and KCMO Police Department officials are once again warning city & county residents of the dangers of sometimes deadly celebratory gunfire and the much tougher criminal penalties for such gunfire in all Missouri cities that took effect in August 2024.

With New Year’s Eve fast approaching which has always been one of the worst times for celebratory gunfire in the Kansas City area, public safety officials are hoping more and more people will heed their warnings as many of them did on July 4 when nobody in KCMO was killed or injured by celebratory gunfire.

For 24 hours during this year’s July 4 holiday, KCPD’s ShotSpotter system which covers much of the central portion of the city only recorded 31 incidents totaling 200 rounds fired which was way less than the numbers recorded in recent years on holidays such as July 4 and New Year’s Eve which are usually the worst for such gunfire along with major Chiefs victories.

The enhanced penalties for celebratory and other reckless gunfire in cities are contained in Blair’s Law named to honor the memory of 11-year-old Blair Shanahan Lane who died as a result of being struck by celebratory gunfire while playing in the yard here on July 4, 2011.

This legislation was championed for over a decade by Blair’s mother, Michele Shanahan DeMoss, and sponsored in the Missouri General Assembly for several years by my son, Representative Mark Sharp, until its passage and signing into law last year.

The first offense is a state misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail or up to a $2,000 fine, and the second offense is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison or up to a $10,000 fine. The third or subsequent offenses are more serious felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison or up to a $10,000 fine.

If someone is injured by such gunfire the penalties are much harsher, and if someone is killed the shooter is likely to face involuntary manslaughter charges when apprehended.

Johnson has repeatedly emphasized she is taking violations of Blair’s Law very seriously. So far this year, Johnson’s office has filed charges for 37 alleged Blair’s Law violations–32 in Kansas City, 4 in Independence and 1 in Blue Springs. When last analyzed, Johnson’s office had filed more charges for Blair’s Law violations than any other county prosecutor’s office in the state.

The KCMO Police Department recently issued a statement noting that during the last year it has submitted numerous cases for prosecution under Blair’s Law and will continue to do so each time investigations lead it to someone committing this crime. “KCPD remains keenly aware of the challenges associated with celebratory gunfire around the New Year’s Eve holiday. We remain committed to protecting Kansas Citians from this dangerous crime,” the statement said.

Please read Johnson’s attached statement and follow her advice to warn friends, neighbors and relatives about the dangers and much tougher penalties for such behavior and remember to always call 911 whenever you see or hear shots being fired in your city.

Welcome 2026 With Celebration, Not Gunfire

By Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

As we prepare to welcome 2026, let’s address something that has become far too common in our community: the sound of gunfire during New Year celebrations. Every New Year’s Eve, when we should be focused on hope and new beginnings, someone fires a gun into the air and too often, someone innocent pays the price. Our community is tired of it.

Our children and families deserve to celebrate without fear, wondering whether a bullet might come through their roof or windows.

When someone fires a bullet into the air, it comes back down at deadly speeds and sometimes thousands of feet from where it was fired. We have seen the devastation it causes first hand. Celebratory gunfire is now illegal under Blair’s Law, named after 11 -year-old Blair Shanahan Lane, who was tragically killed by a stray bullet during a July 4 celebration in 2011. State law, effective since August 2024, gives us the tools to hold reckless shooters accountable. And we are using them.

Our office charged 37 people this year for Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, or Blair’s Law violations. Under the law, the consequences are serious: up to one year in jail for a first offense, four years for a second offense, seven years for three or more. If someone is injured or killed, the penalties become far more severe. We will continue to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law.

To the community, we need your help. If you see someone firing a weapon recklessly or hear gunshots in your area, call 911 every single time. You could potentially save a life.

Keep your security cameras running. The footage you capture could identify a dangerous individual and prevent future tragedy.

This New Year’s Eve, let’s stop this dangerous tradition. Let’s bring in 2026 with peaceful and safe celebrations, not gunfire. It’s going to take all of us, but together, we can ensure that no more families experience the tragedy that Blair’s family had to endure.