Current:Home > MyO'Reilly Auto Parts worker charged in strangulation death of suspected shoplifter -Secure Horizon Growth
O'Reilly Auto Parts worker charged in strangulation death of suspected shoplifter
View
Date:2025-04-17 22:33:06
An employee at a O'Reilly's Auto Parts store in Kansas has been charged with second-degree murder after an alleged shoplifter died following a fight.
Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against Carl Kemppainen, 39, in the death of 23-year-old Diamond Steen.
It's unclear whether Kemppainen has an attorney. He has been released after posting a $125,000 bond, court records show.
More:61-year-old woman falls to death off 150-foot cliff at Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
What happened?
Officers were dispatched to the auto parts store on the evening of Sept. 19 in response to a disturbance and were told that two men had been shoplifting, said the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department in a statement.
Police learned that a fight between store employees and the alleged shoplifters resulted in a death. Officers attempted CPR on Steen, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree said at a news conference that Steen died from strangulation.
“The deceased’s airway was completely stopped and that ultimately caused his death," he said, citing an autopsy.
The second alleged shoplifter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, police said.
More:Day of adventure turns into nightmare for Canadian amusement park riders
It's been 'nightmare' for Steen's family
Steen's Facebook posts show that he was a proud father, saying "look at my handsome boy" on one post about his son. In another post by a woman who identified herself as the mother of Steen's children, she said she's pregnant with his child, set to be born in a month
Steen's family told KCTV that they're devastated by his death and that employees at the store should have handled the situation differently.
“It’s disturbing. It’s sickening. It’s a nightmare to have to navigate through this," Steen’s aunt, Sawnya Helm, told the outlet. "It’s not even a nightmare, you wake up from nightmares. There’s no waking up from this."
Steen’s cousin, Ivonnah Echols, told the station that store employees should have just contacted the police.
“You are supposed to stay away from the subject and call the police because you’re taking not even yourself at risk you’re taking the customers at risk, you’re taking the associates at the store at risk,” Echols said.
'Make no mistake'
During the news conference, Dupree said: "Make no mistake, it is law enforcements job to do the policing, no one else's."
In a statement to USA TODAY, O'Reilly Auto Parts said they're "deeply disturbed by the events, death and injuries that occurred at our store in Kansas City, Kansas. We are cooperating fully with the police investigation.”
veryGood! (34)
Related
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Putin’s first prime minister and later his opponent has been added to Russia’s ‘foreign agent’ list
- This mom nearly died. Now she scrubs in to the same NICU where nurses cared for her preemie
- Runaway bull on Phoenix freeway gets wrangled back without injury
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- South Carolina basketball sets program record in 101-19 rout of Mississippi Valley State
- Person dead after officer-involved shooting outside Salem
- NBA investigating Thunder guard Josh Giddey for allegations involving a minor
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- An Israeli-owned ship was targeted in suspected Iranian attack in Indian Ocean, US official tells AP
Ranking
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Spoilers! The best Disney references in 'Wish' (including that tender end-credits scene)
- Suspect in young woman’s killing is extradited as Italians plan to rally over violence against women
- Russia launches largest drone attack on Ukraine since start of invasion, says Ukrainian military
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- The Netherlands’ longtime ruling party says it won’t join a new government following far-right’s win
- Paris Hilton shares why she is thankful on Thanksgiving: a baby girl
- What's Making Us Happy: A guide to your weekend viewing and listening
Recommendation
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
Pep Guardiola faces fresh questions about allegations of financial wrongdoing by Manchester City
Jonathan Bailey’s Wicked Tease Will Have Fans Dancing Through Life
Beware! 'The Baddies' are here to scare your kids — and make them laugh
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
How algorithms determine what you'll buy for the holidays — and beyond
Powerball winning numbers for Nov. 22 drawing: Check your tickets for $313 million jackpot
Top diplomats from Japan and China meet in South Korea ahead of 3-way regional talks