Death Of Negro Rapper Leads To Crime Spike

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Death Of Fat Tone Leads To Crime Spike, KMBC Reports

Recent Robberies May Be Connected To KC Rapper

POSTED: 9:50 pm CDT June 29, 2005
UPDATED: 10:23 pm CDT June 29, 2005

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A new picture is forming on why crime may seem like it's out of control in the metro area.


KMBC's Jim Flink reported Wednesday that several recent home invasions, carjackings, street robberies and shootings may be linked to associates of murdered rap artist Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins.

Fat Tone was shot to death last month in Las Vegas. Since then, police and community leaders told KMBC th

at there has been a chain reaction of chaos and crime on Kansas City streets.

"A community in an uproar -- lots of confusions .
.. violence (is) on the upswing, to some degree," said Mark Porter, with Hundred Men of Blue Hills.

Investigators said they believe associates of Fat Tone are committing random crimes, such as home invasions and carjackings, and in addition, enemies of Fat Tone are retaliating.

Officials said the slaying of Watkins' aunt earlier this month may be connected, as was the murder of a man Monday at East 55th Street and College Avenue. Police said a Fat Tone associate may be the shooter in that case.

Police say an associate of rapper Fat Tone may have shot and killed a man at East 55th Street and College Avenue on June 27.

"What you see in Fat Tone -- is not what you should be," Porter said. "That one person has caused so much havoc because we have a weak community."

Community activists are calling for residen
ts t
o take back the streets and stop the violence.

"All it takes, is one person or two people to say, 'This is not going to happen on my block,'" said the Rev. Tony Caldwell, with
Peacekeepers.

Caldwell said within minutes of the shooting at 55th and College, Peacekeepers members were out in force canvassing the area. Within eight hours, the suspected shooter was in police custody.

Leaders said that kind of activism sends a powerful message to criminals.

"If you're going to live in fear, then the Fat Tones of the world are going to kick you around like a rubber ball," Porter said.

Anyone with information of a crime can contact Move Up at (816) 753-1111 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477
 
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