Sep 22, 2023

Kan. auto parts store employee charged with killing shoplifter

Posted Sep 22, 2023 4:55 PM
Kemppainen-photo Wyandotte County
Kemppainen-photo Wyandotte County

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide that took place at the O’Reilly’s Auto Parts in 4700 Block of Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas  have identified the victim as 23-year-old Diamond Steen, according to a media release from police. 

On Thursday evening,  the Wyandotte County District attorney announced charges of Murder in the 2nd degree; Unintentional but reckless against the store manager 39-year-old Carl Ryan Kemppainen. He remains jailed in Wyandotte County, according to online jail records.

Just before 6:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a disturbance at the store.

Dispatch advised officers that two adult men entered the store and began shoplifting. A physical altercation ensued between the shoplifters and employees outside of the store that resulted in one of the shoplifters later identified as Steen being killed. His cause of death was determined to be strangulation, according to Dupree.

 The other shoplifter had minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. All employees involved in the physical altercation were taken into police custody.  The others involved could also face charges, according to Dupree.