Fourteen-year-old Deontae Thomas, a Black male, was shot on Saturday evening, April 17, 2021, inside Hometowne Studios at 4301 North Corrington Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, an area across from Worlds of Fun. Officers found him with a critical gunshot wound; he was taken to a hospital, had emergency surgery, and died the next day, April 18, 2021. His death was recorded as the city’s 45th homicide that year.

The shooting was classified as a homicide and detectives identified a person of interest, but as of the latest available details no arrests have been made and the investigation remains active. Authorities have asked the public for help in piecing together what happened.

If anyone was at Hometowne Studios that evening or has information about Deontae’s shooting, please contact the TIPS Hotline.