Jeffrey Mcdonald

Jeffrey McDonald, a 50-year-old man from Kansas City, Missouri, was known by friends and family for his immense kindness and his readiness to help anyone in need. Friends said that fighting was not in his DNA and that he never raised his voice. His sister-in-law, Dawn McDonald, who had known him for nearly 30 years, said she had never seen him mad. A lifelong resident of the area, Jeffrey owned rental properties and was known to let tenants stay rent-free if they fell behind. His friend Ed Landes recalled how Jeffrey had let him stay in one of his properties to get back on his feet.

On the evening of Monday, July 13, 2015, Jeffrey was helping a friend fix his truck. According to a witness, an unknown person walked up behind him without any warning or provocation. The person did not say a word before fatally shooting Jeffrey in the head. The slaying left his friends baffled, who believed that if the killer had simply asked for something, Jeffrey would have given it to them and more.

The seemingly random and senseless nature of the crime left neighbors frightened and the community in shock. Jeffrey was born in Kansas City on February 17, 1965. He was survived by his two daughters, Blair and Emily McDonald, his mother, Diana Brashear, a sister, Betty Nobile, and a brother, James McDonald. A memorial service was held in Raytown, Missouri, on July 23, 2015. In the days after his death, his friend Ed Landes promised to fulfill a promise by taking care of the cat that Jeffrey had inherited from his own late father.

Police investigated the homicide, but no arrests were made and a detailed description of the shooter was not released. In the weeks following the shooting, Jeffrey's family and neighbors joined forces to urge anyone with information to step forward. The AdHoc Group Against Crime hosted a neighborhood vigil at 27th Street and Cypress Avenue to remember Jeffrey and appeal for tips from the public.

As of July 2015, Jeffrey McDonald's murder remains unsolved. Both the AdHoc Group Against Crime and the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline are offering rewards for information in the case. Anyone with a tip can call 816-474-8477 and may remain anonymous.