Kansas City, Kansas man charged with murder in Tuesday night shooting: Police

A Kansas City, Kansas man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of another Kansas City, Kansas man near Jersey Creek Park on Tuesday night.

Willie Lee Rucker, 53, was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting 44-year-old Jimmie Clark Jr. Rucker was also charged with discharging a weapon at an occupied vehicle and possession of a weapon by a felon, all felonies.

KCK police officers responded to the area of North 7th Street and Parallel Parkway around 10:42 p.m. Tuesday after receiving reports of a person lying in the street.

When officers arrived, they found the man later identified as Clark in the street with apparent gunshot wounds, according to KCKPD spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.

Paramedics pronounced Clark dead at the scene.

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department arrested Rucker on Thursday. He is currently being held in the Wyandotte County jail on a $250,000 bond.

Rucker was previously convicted in Kansas court on charges including child torture, child endangerment, assault, domestic battery and attempted criminal threat.

Clark’s death was the 19th homicide reported in Kansas City, Kansas in 2024, according to data collected by The Star. At this time last year, 19 homicides had been reported in KCK, according to Star data.