James Edward Anderson III was 19 when he was found with multiple gunshot wounds in Topeka, Kansas, on the evening of February 10, 2021. First responders were called to the scene, and despite their efforts he died of his injuries. Born February 16, 2001, he had graduated Highland Park High School in 2020 and worked in the sanitation department of a large food manufacturing plant. Active in The New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church as a Jr. Deacon and the Pastor’s armor bearer, he lived with his great-grandparents who had adopted him and was remembered for his faith, love of sports, movies and music, and the way he made others smile.

Witnesses reported seeing a young man in his early twenties wearing dark clothing and a hooded sweatshirt fleeing the area shortly after the shooting. That account, and the subsequent investigation by the Topeka Police Department, led to the identification and February 15, 2021 arrest of 22-year-old Michael Thompson. Thompson was charged with first-degree murder and investigators said they believed the motive was a personal dispute between Thompson and Anderson.

If anyone knew James, saw him in Topeka around February 10, 2021, or has information relevant to the case, please come forward.