Incident Overview
On November 18, 2025, at approximately 8:40 p.m., a fatal shooting occurred inside the Phillips 66 Xpress Mart convenience store located at the intersection of Gregory Boulevard and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.
The victim, 41-year-old Craig Washington, was working his shift at the store when he was shot and killed. According to police reports, multiple witnesses were present inside the store at the time of the shooting. Preliminary information indicates that Washington and an unidentified suspect or suspects "had an interaction that escalated, eventually to gunfire."
Washington was found unresponsive on the ground inside the store. Officers rendered aid and called for EMS, but Washington was pronounced deceased at the scene. This incident marked the 126th homicide in Kansas City, Missouri for 2025.
Remembering Craig Washington
In the days following the shooting, friends, family members, and regular customers visited the store to pay their respects. A memorial with handwritten notes and a message reading "Stop the Violence" was placed in front of the store.
Those who knew Washington described him as someone who "stayed out of the way and avoided conflict" and who "used to always help anybody," including giving free snacks to homeless individuals.
Investigation Status
As of November 19, 2025, police reported they were "making headway identifying a subject of interest," though no arrests had been announced. The convenience store was unable to share surveillance footage with media by the time of initial reporting.
Area Crime History
The location where this incident occurred has experienced ongoing criminal activity. According to Kansas City Police Department crime mapping data, the area surrounding the Phillips 66 Xpress Mart at Gregory and Prospect has seen property crimes, assaults, and robberies throughout 2025.
"The sound of gunshots...is common. This community is going downhill fast. It's just too many shootings."
A friend of the victim, interviewed following the shooting
Related Incidents in November 2025
Approximately two hours after Washington's death, the city's 127th homicide occurred less than three miles away from the same location.
Earlier in November 2025 (November 3), a separate shooting incident involving an employee was reported at a different Phillips 66 gas station on Prospect Avenue, near Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard.
Arguments have been identified as the leading contributor to homicides in Kansas City in 2025, accounting for approximately 42% of cases.
Convenience Store Security Standards
Gas stations and convenience stores face particular security challenges due to factors such as cash handling, late operating hours, and accessibility to the public. Industry security experts and law enforcement agencies have identified several measures commonly recommended for these establishments:
Surveillance Systems
Security cameras should be strategically placed at entrances, exits, cash registers, and parking areas. High-quality recording with remote access capabilities and retention of footage for a minimum of 30 days is recommended.
Panic Buttons
Silent alarm systems that allow employees to discreetly alert authorities during emergencies are considered standard security equipment for convenience stores.
Physical Barriers
For stores operating in high-crime areas or during late-night hours, bullet-resistant barriers at cash register areas may provide employee protection while still allowing customer transactions.
Adequate Staffing
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department's Crime Prevention Handbook recommends that convenience store employees "should never work alone" and that businesses should "always have at least two employees on-duty at all times."
Lighting
Well-lit premises both inside and outside, including parking areas, serve as both a deterrent and a means of natural surveillance.
Access Control
Limiting entry points and controlling access to sensitive areas such as cash handling rooms.
Potential Negligent Security Considerations
Under Missouri law, property owners must keep their premises in reasonably safe and secure conditions. When evaluating negligent security claims, courts examine whether the property owner knew or should have known about security risks and whether reasonable measures were implemented to address foreseeable dangers.
Several factors may warrant examination regarding this incident:
1 Area Crime Patterns
The documented history of criminal activity in the immediate area, including property crimes, assaults, and robberies, may be relevant to evaluating the foreseeability of violent crime at this location.
2 Industry Security Standards
The convenience store and gas station industry has established security protocols that are widely recognized. Whether the store had implemented measures consistent with these standards, such as surveillance systems, panic buttons, adequate lighting, and appropriate staffing levels, would be relevant considerations.
3 Time of Incident
The shooting occurred during evening hours (approximately 8:40 p.m.), a time period when convenience stores may face elevated security risks and when enhanced precautions are often recommended.
4 Presence of Witnesses
The fact that multiple customers were present in the store at the time of the shooting raises questions about the presence or absence of security measures that might have provided deterrence or enabled a faster emergency response.
5 Surveillance Footage
Reports indicate the convenience store was unable to provide surveillance footage to media. The existence, quality, and placement of security cameras at the location may be relevant to understanding what security measures were in place.
Missouri Law Note
Missouri's Business Premises Safety Act establishes that businesses have no duty to guard against criminal acts unless they know or have reason to know such acts are being committed or are reasonably likely to be committed on the premises. The statute also provides an affirmative defense where a business has "implemented reasonable security measures." Determining whether this defense would apply requires examination of the specific security measures in place at the time of the incident and whether they constituted a reasonable response to known or foreseeable risks at this particular location.