KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV/Gray News) - A 39-year-old O’Reilly’s store employee was arrested and charged in connection to the death of a suspected shoplifter, according to authorities.
Carl Kemppainen was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Diamond Steen, according to the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office.
Officers responded to the O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Kansas City, Kansas, around 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday for the report of a disturbance.
When they arrived, the first responders learned two men had entered the store and began to shoplift. A fight broke out shortly after between the suspects and store employees outside the store, resulting in one of the suspected shoplifters being killed.
Authorities identified the man as Steen and determined he died of strangulation.
Police said the other shoplifter suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.
Kemppainen was booked on a $125,000 bond. According to online jail records, his bond was posted.
The range of sentencing for the reckless second-degree murder charge is 109 to 493 months in prison.
Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
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Johnny_Lang_1962 on September 25th, 2023 at 17:00 UTC »
There isn't a damn thing inside of O'Reilly's to do time over.
texan01 on September 25th, 2023 at 16:59 UTC »
One of the things I was taught when working retail -
No merchandise is worth getting hurt for.
Someone comes in and steals product, money, whatever - get a license plate and call the cops. Don't lay hands on that person.
PoodleIlluminati on September 25th, 2023 at 16:24 UTC »
Should have stayed with jumper cable whipping.