O’Reilly Auto Parts Employee Fatally Strangles Shoplifter
Sep 28, 2023, 11:00 AM
Kansas City Prosecutors charge a store employee after a fatal altercation following an alleged shoplifting incident.
A recent altercation at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Kansas City turned deadly when a 23-year-old man, Diamond Steen, allegedly attempting to shoplift, was strangled by a store employee. The incident has led to a significant criminal charge, highlighting the potentially dire consequences of taking the law into one's own hands.
On the evening of Sept. 19, a call was made to the Kansas City Police Department regarding a disturbance at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store located on Parallel Parkway. The caller informed the police dispatch that two men were allegedly shoplifting from the store. This led to a confrontation outside the store premises between the alleged shoplifters and the store employees. By the time the police arrived on the scene, they found one man unresponsive, necessitating immediate CPR. Unfortunately, efforts to revive him failed, and he was declared dead on the spot.
The deceased individual was later identified as Diamond Steen. Another individual, involved in the incident and bearing minor injuries, was promptly transported to a local hospital. He is now in stable condition.
Wyandotte County District Attorney, Mark Dupree, in a public announcement on Sept. 21, confirmed the arrest of Carl Kemppainen, a 39-year-old employee of the store. Kemppainen has been formally charged with second-degree murder. Elaborating on the seriousness of the charge, Dupree stated that Kemppainen is accused of unlawfully and intentionally causing Steen’s death. He further specified that the act was committed "recklessly," showcasing "extreme indifference" towards Steen’s life.
An autopsy report solidified the narrative of the fatal confrontation. The findings determined that the cause of Diamond Steen's death was strangulation, categorizing the manner of death as a homicide. The gravity of the situation was captured in Dupree's words: "The deceased’s airway was completely stopped, and that ultimately caused his death."
This incident has now opened a legal can of worms. Dupree mentioned the possibility of additional charges not only against Kemppainen but also other O’Reilly employees involved in the altercation. The ramifications of this event have the potential to extend far beyond just one individual.
The severity of the charges brought against Kemppainen is evident in the potential sentencing. If found guilty of the charges, he faces a prison term ranging from 109 months to 493 months. In simpler terms, Kemppainen could be incarcerated for approximately nine to 41 years. As of the latest reports, Kemppainen remains in custody at the Wyandotte County Jail, with his bond set at a hefty $125,000.
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A recent altercation at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Kansas City turned deadly when a 23-year-old man, Diamond Steen, allegedly attempting to shoplift, was strangled by a store employee. The incident has led to a significant criminal charge, highlighting the potentially dire consequences of taking the law into one's own hands.
On the evening of Sept. 19, a call was made to the Kansas City Police Department regarding a disturbance at the O’Reilly Auto Parts store located on Parallel Parkway. The caller informed the police dispatch that two men were allegedly shoplifting from the store. This led to a confrontation outside the store premises between the alleged shoplifters and the store employees. By the time the police arrived on the scene, they found one man unresponsive, necessitating immediate CPR. Unfortunately, efforts to revive him failed, and he was declared dead on the spot.
The deceased individual was later identified as Diamond Steen. Another individual, involved in the incident and bearing minor injuries, was promptly transported to a local hospital. He is now in stable condition.
Wyandotte County District Attorney, Mark Dupree, in a public announcement on Sept. 21, confirmed the arrest of Carl Kemppainen, a 39-year-old employee of the store. Kemppainen has been formally charged with second-degree murder. Elaborating on the seriousness of the charge, Dupree stated that Kemppainen is accused of unlawfully and intentionally causing Steen’s death. He further specified that the act was committed "recklessly," showcasing "extreme indifference" towards Steen’s life.
An autopsy report solidified the narrative of the fatal confrontation. The findings determined that the cause of Diamond Steen's death was strangulation, categorizing the manner of death as a homicide. The gravity of the situation was captured in Dupree's words: "The deceased’s airway was completely stopped, and that ultimately caused his death."
This incident has now opened a legal can of worms. Dupree mentioned the possibility of additional charges not only against Kemppainen but also other O’Reilly employees involved in the altercation. The ramifications of this event have the potential to extend far beyond just one individual.
The severity of the charges brought against Kemppainen is evident in the potential sentencing. If found guilty of the charges, he faces a prison term ranging from 109 months to 493 months. In simpler terms, Kemppainen could be incarcerated for approximately nine to 41 years. As of the latest reports, Kemppainen remains in custody at the Wyandotte County Jail, with his bond set at a hefty $125,000.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com