Killa City: Vandals desecrate memorial to slain Independence teen

Wish this were surprising. The mother of a slain Independence teen claims vandals have destroyed a memorial to her son in Benton Park three times.

Kathy Johnson told KSHB Channel 41 that her family had constructed a memorial for her 19-year-old son, Jeffrey Paul Johnson, but vandals replaced the flowers and photos with a beer bottle. Other times, tea light candles were smashed and bulbs of flowers ripped off.

On March 7, 19-year-old Mauricio Lopez allegedly shot and killed Jeffrey Johnson during an argument. KSHB refers to Lopez as “a gang member.”