Lamon Clark Jr

Lamon Edwards Clark-Bey Jr., known to his family and friends as “Buddah,” was a creative and joyful young man who was the life of the party. A 23-year-old Black male born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Lamon was a devoted father to his four children: Lamiyah, Amauri, Lamon III, and Amiyah. He had attended Kansas City Charter Schools and was actively working toward his G.E.D. when his life was cut short. Lamon had a talent for drawing, once winning an award for a drawing of the UMKC Roos Mascot. He also loved playing video games and football. At the age of eight, he joined the Moorish Science Temple of America. His loved ones remember him most for the joy he found in spending time with his children and family, and the vibrant energy he brought into their lives.

The afternoon of Sunday, November 12, 2017, turned tragic for Lamon and his family. The first that authorities learned of the violence was at approximately 4:06 p.m., when a white Dodge Charger arrived at the emergency entrance of Research Medical Center at 2316 E. Meyer Boulevard. The car carried multiple victims of a shooting. Among them was Lamon, who was suffering from multiple, life-threatening gunshot wounds. Medical staff rushed to provide emergency care, but his injuries were too severe. Lamon Clark Jr. died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department was dispatched to the hospital, and upon Lamon's death, detectives with the Homicide Unit immediately began an investigation. The case presented unusual challenges from the start, as the crime did not occur at the hospital. A primary task for investigators was to work backward from the victims' arrival to pinpoint the exact location where the shooting had taken place. The white Dodge Charger became a key piece of evidence, but details about the other occupants of the vehicle, the severity of their injuries, or what they were able to tell police have not been publicly released.

Detectives began the difficult process of piecing together the events that led to the shooting. Without a defined crime scene, they faced the challenge of identifying suspects and a motive. The investigation, assigned case number 17-96388, was led by Detective Drake. In the years since the shooting, no arrests have been made, and no persons of interest have been publicly identified. The specific circumstances of the shooting and what precipitated the violence remain unanswered questions, leaving a painful void for Lamon’s family and the community.

Lamon was deeply loved and is survived by a large family, including his four children, his parents, Lamon E. Clark, Sr. and Christine J. Jackson, his grandparents, sisters, and many aunts, cousins, and friends who cherished him. His funeral services were held on Friday, November 24, 2017, where his community gathered to mourn the loss of a young life full of promise.

The case of Lamon Clark Jr.’s murder remains open and unsolved. The Kansas City Police Department continues to ask for the public’s help in bringing resolution to the case and providing justice for his family. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to contact the KCPD Homicide Unit at 816-234-5228 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).