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    Food truck event planned at viewing for slain KCMO food truck owner

    By Dave D'Marko,

    1 day ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3cikFT_0uxGMAkm00

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A popular Kansas City food truck operator was killed last week doing what he loved.

    Thursday, the food truck community, both operators and food truck enthusiasts, are invited out to say goodbye at an event to honor Dyamund “DJ” Shields Jr.

    A viewing is planned Thursday afternoon at Marcom Harvey Funeral Care on Blue Ridge Boulevard. The family will also have a private service here to remember the 31-year-old father. But they say they knew he was so loved in the community they had to have something for everyone to attend as well.

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    “He was a loving son, a loving father. He just had the compassion for people, for life, for what he did,” his mother Nechelle Kidd said.

    And part of what Shields did was cook, and take that good old fashioned chicken mac-n-cheese out to the community in the food truck he co-operated with his dad until his dad’s passing.

    It was right in front of his dad’s old restaurant near Prospect and Gregory where the food truck operator better known as “DJ” was working late Sunday night into early Monday morning last week at a party with up to 1,000 people, according to police.

    Family believe he may have been outside of the truck closing up for the night when a shootout broke out. 180 shell casings were found, Shields believed to have been caught in the crossfire, was killed.

    “This not only affects me but so many other people. There were other people that were injured that night. So it’s a ripple effect, it’s a domino effect,” his mother explained.

    Shield’s uncle knows all about that ripple effect. DJ was just 3 years old when Ricky Kidd was sent away to prison for a double murder which a judge ruled 23 years later he didn’t commit.

    “I always said if I was able to be successful on my appeal and get reintegrated into society, I would meet them before they even committed the act,” Ricky said.

    And that’s what he’s been doing since his release, trying to end the cycle of violence that’s now claimed a family member who seems to have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    “We have to do better. I think its awful that we get a hold of weapons and people have no consideration for life,” DJ’s mother said.

    While they wait for answers from detectives about what happened, the family says they are frustrated and disappointed, but have no anger in their hearts. Thursday, five years to the day Kidd walked out of prison and got to hug his nephew and other family members, they’ll celebrate Shields’ life in a fitting tribute.

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    “With DJ, the food truck community was a huge part of his life. What better way to commemorate him than by sharing what he loved and allowing the community to come together to celebrate him and the things he loved the most,” Marcom Harvey Funeral Care co-owner Aesha Humphrey said.

    The event will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, August 15 at Marcom Harvey. Operators are encouraged to bring their food trucks, but for planning purposes they are asked to call Marcom Harvey at 816-763-9100 on Wednesday to reserve a spot.

    A portion of proceeds raised from food truck sales will go to support DJ’s three kids.

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.

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