Arrest Made in 2017 Kansas City Murder of December After Cold Case Unit Investigation
Authorities announced on Thursday that detectives specializing in unsolved cases in Kansas City, Kansas have successfully resolved the murder of a 15-year-old high school student who tragically lost his life in a workplace shooting back in 2017.
A suspect has been charged by the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office in connection with the killing of December Htoo, according to police. According to a police spokesperson, the suspect has been detained in the Larned State Mental Health Facility after being convicted in a different case.
The suspect has been identified as Luis Samano, who was 17 years old at the time. According to online records with the Kansas Department of Corrections, he has been held at the state facility since 2019 due to two felony arson convictions in Johnson County.
Police have charged Samano with murder and attempted aggravated robbery. The district attorney’s office declined to provide any comments on juvenile cases, according to a spokesperson.
In November 2017, Htoo tragically lost his life in a shooting incident at the coin laundry where he was employed in the Argentine neighborhood. The body was found the next morning.
Htoo and his family fled to the U.S. through a refugee camp when he was a child, as reported by The Star.
Those close to Htoo recalled him as a bright student who had a strong command of English, his second language. He dreamt of one day pursuing a career in mixed martial arts.
Htoo gained recognition during his freshman year as a member of the J.C. Harmon High School wrestling team, thanks to his bold and fearless approach. Htoo’s passing occurred shortly after the team completed its initial week of practice.
There were no individuals present to witness the tragic incident involving the teenager. According to the police, the evidence collected at the beginning of the investigation consisted of shell casings and surveillance footage described as “grainy.”
During a drug-related arrest in Lenexa, police discovered a firearm in 2021. According to the police, a detective in Kansas City, Kansas interviewed the gun owner assigned to Htoo’s case, who claimed that Samano had stolen it.
According to the police, a forensic lab test conducted by the KBI in 2022 confirmed that the gun was indeed the murder weapon. However, the police did not have any evidence at that time to link Samano to the crime scene.
In May, the Kansas City, Kansas police department assigned Det. Lily Szewc to handle the case. According to the police, Samano was interviewed that month and criminal charges were filed against him last week.
On Thursday, the police in Kansas City, Kansas issued a statement on behalf of the teenager’s family, who have asked for privacy during this difficult time.
He is dearly loved and greatly missed by his family, friends, and community. The family expressed in their statement that he was always cheerful, radiated positivity, and actively engaged in his community, which included his church youth camp and bible study. “We are grateful to the community and the police department for reevaluating the case.”
In 2022, the Kansas City, Kansas police established a specialized cold case unit, led by Police Chief Karl Oakman, who was appointed to the position the previous year. For quite some time, community activists have been advocating for the establishment of a specialized team to focus on solving the cases of unsolved killings, with a particular emphasis on those involving Black women.
In September, the unit made an announcement in collaboration with Wyandotte County’s top prosecutor, stating that four murder cases had been resolved.
Two tragic incidents that occurred in the past were the murders of Christina King on Christmas Day 1998, and Pearl Barnes, also known as Sameemah Musawwir, who was discovered deceased in an abandoned house in 1996. Gary Dion Davis, 52, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in relation to those homicides following an investigation by the cold case unit.