Killa City: More on the deaths of Andrew Eli and Justin Budreau

We told you about the Facebook tribute to homicide victims Andrew J. Eli and Justin K. Budreau here yesterday. Today, The Kansas City Star picks up on the tribute and fills in some of the blanks on Eli and Budreau, although police don’t have many leads (call the TIPS Hotline 816-474-8477 if you do). Eli and Budreau were friends from Mill Valley High School in Shawnee.

Around 2 p.m. Saturday, Budreau was visiting Eli at his new apartment in the 1300 block of East 59th Street. Police patrolling the neighborhood heard gunshots. Witnesses told police that they saw several unidentified black men running from a house in the neighborhood. Inside

the house, officers found Eli fatally shot. Budreau was wounded and transported to a local hospital where he later died.

The Star says:

Homicide Detective Rob Blehm said that several items — “nothing

substantial” — were stolen in the 2 p.m. shooting, but he didn’t know

whether robbery was the motive.

There were no signs of forced entry to the apartment, which is on

the top floor of a house that had been renovated into two apartments.

That could mean that the victims knew their killers or the door was

unlocked, Blehm said.

Friends of Budreau and Eli gathered last night at 59th and Forest.

Bring candles, drums, signs, sage and whatever else feels good to you. The police will be on patrol for our safety (so save the 420 festivities for a later time) and the news stations will be informed. We will depart at sunset silently in honor of Andrew and Justin.

Eli’s friends posted tributes on his Facebook page, wishing him a “happy 4/20.”

“You were truly an awesome person…Happy 4/20, I feel like you are celebrating it wherever you are!” one wrote.

“Happy 420 man, I will try to see if I can send somethin up to ya,” another wrote.

“Happy 4/20 broski,” wrote another, “i know u loved it!!! i love you man!!!”

Budreau’s brother posted an obituary and funeral information on Facebook.