Officer Barney Jasper was on patrol when he was shot and killed in an ambush.

The night of January 21, 1924, Officer Barney Jasper was walking in Little Italy when an unknown assailant ambushed him, shooting him from behind with a shotgun. He was found where he had fallen in front of 518 Forest Avenue. Police theory was that the assailant hid behind a tall fence at the address and fired on him from that spot. Officer Jasper was struck in the knee with a shotgun blast and shot him in the back four more times. Threats against the beat officer Officer Jasper recently replaced that created conjecture that the assailants may have intended to kill the officer that officer instead of Officer Jasper. Detective Moran had spoken to Officer Jasper at 11:00 pm at 5th and Forest and cautioned Officer Jasper to be careful on his new beat as it was in the heart of the bootlegging district. The suspect was never identified.

Officer Jasper was assigned to Police Headquarters and his beat was in the heart of the Little Italy bootlegging district. He was the first black Kansas City police officer to be killed in the line of duty. He was survived by his wife, Henrietta Jasper. Service: Vine Street Baptist Church. Interred: Highland Cemetery.

Article by Brent Marchant