Downtown safety called into question after overnight homicide

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A teenager is dead, and two others are hospitalized after an overnight shooting in Springfield.

Just after 2 a.m., Springfield Police were called to the Heer’s parking garage on North Campbell Avenue after reports of multiple people being shot.

Despite the incident, Jared Stevenson says he still feels safe downtown.

“We got a good police presence. So, it hasn’t impacted us today. We got a good crowd,” said Stevenson.

Stephenson owns Harbell’s Grill and Sports Bar, which is on the same corner as the parking garage police were dispatched to early this morning.

“You know, it can happen anywhere here in town,” Stevenson said.

Police say they found two men in a car who were shot near Campbell Avenue and McDaniel Street. Another man was located at Olive and Campbell who had also been shot. All three were taken to the hospital.

Police identified the men, including 18-year-old Klayton Hagan, who died this morning from his injuries. Police have not released the condition of the other two men involved.

“It’s a late-night activity, you want to make sure that you’re traveling in groups and that you’re just aware of your surroundings,” Rusty Worley said. “Whether that’s downtown, in parking lots, all across town.”

Worley is the Executive Director for the Downtown Springfield Association and says downtown has gone through a revitalization to maintain itself.

“For the vast majority of people who are out throughout the day or in the evening and going to dinner, this is a very safe area and one that there’s a lot of activity and people around,” Worley said.

SPD has responded to 11 homicides this year. This is the only one that happened downtown.

“I feel safer down here than I do anywhere. There’s a great police presence. There are bouncers at every bar,” Stevenson said. “It really is safe down here. This stuff happens all over town. All over the country.”

Police have not made any arrests and are asking anyone with information pertaining to the case to call the department.

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