Nation mourns victims in Overland Park attacks

JCC of Overland Park, Kansas
JCC of Overland Park, Kansas

 

-Compiled from news reports-

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – A gunman opened fire in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Center in this Kansas City suburb, killing  a man and his teenage grandson as they sat in their car on Sunday afternoon, April 12.  A short while later, in the parking lot of Village Shalom, an assisted living facility 8 blocks away in the next-door community of Leawood, Kansas, another shooting took place, killing an elderly woman.  Not long afterwards police arrested on the grounds of the nearby Valley Park Elementary School a white man later described as a noted anti-Semite and white supremacist.  The suspect  yelled “Heil Hitler” from the back seat of a police car at  reporters after he was taken into custody.

The suspect later was identified as white supremacist Frazier Glenn Miller, 73, of Aurora, Missouri, whom the Southern Poverty Law Center described as a virulent anti-Semite, who has advocated, on-line, killing Jews, and has also gone by the alias of Frazier Glenn Cross.  He was formerly a regional grand dragon in the Ku Klux Klan.  He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, April 14, on charges of premeditated murder.

Family members said the two males killed outside the Jewish Community Center were Christians, Dr. William Lewis Corporan and  his 14-year-old grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood, an Eagle Scout.  They were congregants at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood.

Family members described Corporon  as a physician who “cherished his family, and more than anything had a passion for caring for others.” His grandson “participated in debate, theater and had a beautiful voice,” his family said.

The elderly woman shot at Village Shalom remained unidentified pending notification of her relatives.  It was reported that before firing at the assisted living residence, the suspect first asked people whether they were Jewish.

The initial shooting took place approximately at 1 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, where high schoolers from throughout metropolitan Kansas City were auditioning for the “KC Super Star” program.  Elsewhere in the JCC complex, a rehearsal of the play “To Kill a Mockingbird” was occurring.  Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass said a shotgun and handgun were believed to have been used, and possibly an assault weapon.  He said the suspect shot at two other people but missed, with a bullet whizzing by one of the intended victims.  A JCC member, Mark Brodky, told news media the man pointed a weapon at him, then shot out his car windows.  The double glass doors at the back entrance of the JCC, near its Lewis and Shirley White Theatre, also were destroyed.

The time between the two attacks was brief, and immediately upon realizing they had an “active shooter” situation, Douglass said, police cars were sent to other Jewish facilities in the area to survey the situation.  Douglass was joined at a news conference by a representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which shares in the investigation.  Some materials were taken from the suspect’s car for possible use as evidence, the police chief said.  He declined to elaborate.

The JCC posted on its website this message: “”Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered loss on this tragic day. Our heartfelt gratitude as well to all those in Kansas City and around the world who have expressed sympathy, concern and support.”

President Barack Obama was among the nation’s mourners, saying “while we do not know all of the details surrounding today’s shooting, the initial reports are heartbreaking.”  His statement said he has instructed his “team to stay in close touch with our federal, state and local partners and provide the necessary resources to support the ongoing investigation,”

Congressman Kevin Yoder, who represents the area where the shootings occurred, issued a statement saying “”I’m heartbroken to learn of the senseless shootings this afternoon at the Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom. Brooke and I send our prayers and thoughts to the families and victims of this tragedy and our office stands ready to provide any needed assistance.”

Rabbi Mark Levin of Congregation Beth Torah prayed that “God bring comfort and hope to the victims and their families. This is a very difficult time, and our best response is to support those who have suffered a loss, and be alert for those who are feeling threatened and grieving. This is a time for this community to come together.”

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this heartbreaking tragedy,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris from New York City. “As we await more details on the attack and its motive, we join in solidarity with the entire Kansas City area community, both Jewish and non-Jewish, in expressing shock, sadness and dismay,” Harris added. “We can’t help but note that this attack comes on the eve of Passover, a celebration of Jewish freedom from oppression and violence.”

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) posted a statement on its website:”American Muslims join their fellow citizens in standing in solidarity with the American Jewish community in condemning this deadly hate attack and in offering condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured. We are saddened by this vicious act of hatred. Americans of all faiths must join together to reject the kind of extremist ideologies that can lead to such inexcusable and unconscionable acts.

“The attacks on the Jewish community centers in Overland Park are a cowardly, unspeakable and heinous act of violence,” said Karen Aroesty, St. Louis Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League.  “While it is too early to label these shootings as a hate crime, the fact that two Jewish institutions were targeted by the same individual just prior to the start of the Passover holiday is deeply troubling and certainly gives us pause. We have reached out to local, state and federal law enforcement and stand willing and able to offer guidance and assistance to the community if this incident turns out to have been motivated by anti-Semitism.”

The ADL said that just last week, it sent out a security bulletin to Jewish community institutions across the country warning of the increased potential for violent attacks against community centers in the coming weeks, which coincide both with the Passover holiday and Hitler’s birthday on April 20, a day around which in the United States has historically been marked by extremist acts of violence and terrorism, including the violence at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas and the Oklahoma City Bombing..

“ADL is not aware of any additional threat to Jewish institutions at this time,” said Aroesty.  “Nevertheless, it is appropriate for Jewish institutions to make sure that all of their security measures are in place and in good working order.”

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Preceding based on news reports and news releases.

4 thoughts on “Nation mourns victims in Overland Park attacks”

  1. Rhonda Bloom wrote: “I lived my first 27 years in Overland Park, Kansas. My 82 year old mother goes to this JCC several times a week. She did not go that day as planned because of the severe weather. Thank you for printing this article and making people aware of this unspeakable tragedy. I’m so saddened by this. My prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones.”

  2. Pingback: Overland Park shootings stir heart- felt reactions - San Diego Jewish World

  3. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. It makes me sick just to listen to this HATER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBl7-Q1CMlE

    Hate is real and we all need to work together as brothers and sisters against all kinds of hate. The San Diego Muslim community stands with you. Council on American Islamic Relations San Diego, Executive Director.

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