The mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, is calling for reform after a local chef was shot and killed after allegedly confronting suspects around a car in the parking lot of his restaurant.
“Like many in our community, I am heartbroken to learn of the death of Shaun Brady,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a Facebook post on Thursday. “I have met him, laughed with him, heard just a bit of his and his family’s story, and was inspired by the business and the community he was building in Kansas City.”
Brady, who co-owned Brady’s KC, was killed Wednesday. Two teenagers have been taken into custody, NBC affiliate KSHB of Kansas City reported.
The chef was reportedly taking out the trash when he saw people around a car in the restaurant’s parking lot, according to the news station. Brady allegedly confronted the suspects and was shot, KSHB reported.
The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle that was later recovered in Midtown, the news station reported.
The mayor said Brady’s death comes amid a rise in violence in the city.
“For years now, but more acutely in recent months, business owners ... have expressed serious concerns about a rise in property and nuisance crimes plaguing their stores, their parking lots, and their customers,” he wrote. “For months, community members have cried out for a response from institutions, including our police, our electeds, our county justice apparatus, and all with some role in making things better, explaining that a failure to address would lead to more violent criminal activity.”
The Kansas City Irish Fest said in a Facebook post that the restaurant was a place where many people in the Irish community gathered.
“It was one of Shaun’s greatest gifts to bring people together with his culinary creations,” the post read. “Shaun was the head chef and creator of the Kansas City Irish Breakfast, a joyful tradition following our Catholic Mass the Sunday of the festival weekend.”
The restaurant said it was heartbroken over Brady’s death.
“There are no words to express our sadness, anger and frustration. Our community is with Shaun’s family — forever. We appreciate the outpouring of support, offers to help, and your love,” the eatery wrote on Facebook. “Together we are united. Together we will grieve. Together we will heal.”
