KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Friends, family and neighbors gathered Thursday night to remember the mother and two children who died in a triple murder and arson at a Kansas City, Kansas, residence earlier this week.
The deaths and house fire occurred Monday on North Mill Street. Police identified the victims as 31-year-old Yazmin Rodriguez, her 10-year-old son JeanCarlo and her 14-year-old daughter Amerikha.
Three days later, the community lit candles and left items at the site in honor of the three victims.
“The importance of tonight is definitely to bring the community together,” Edgar Galicia, who helped organize the vigil, said. “They were active members of the community and everybody is wanting to do something to help.”
Several neighbors who spoke to 41 Action News noted how the crime took place just a half-mile from the Tequila KC bar, where four people died in a shooting in October 2019.
After the recent triple homicide, Galicia said it was important for people to come together and put an end to violence.
“We don’t know the exact reality of what happened, but the community is coming together to stand strong,” he said.
A GoFundMe campaign has helped raise over $20,000 for the family.
Moving forward, Galicia hoped 2020 would bring fewer vigils like the one Thursday night.
“The nature of the crime is horrendous,” he said. “We don’t want it to happen again.”
After discovering the three family members inside the home, police later arrested 31-year-old Ismael Caballero in connection with the crimes. He is being held at the Wyandotte County Jail and faces charges of murder and arson.
