Kansas City police confirmed that 28‑year‑old Decorrian Partee was killed in a shooting at the Popeyes restaurant located at 31st Street and Prospect Avenue on Saturday, January 31, 2026. Another man was injured but survived, and investigators are pursuing leads after witnesses reported an altercation that escalated into gunfire.
The incident unfolded just after 8 p.m. when officers were dispatched to the Popeyes on Prospect Avenue following reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds inside the restaurant. One victim was alert and responsive and was transported to a local hospital with non‑life‑threatening injuries. The second victim, later identified as Decorrian Partee, was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
Witnesses told police that an altercation between multiple individuals inside the restaurant led to the exchange of gunfire. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts are being reviewed to determine the exact sequence of events. Detectives noted that an unknown vehicle was seen leaving the area around the time of the shooting, though it remains unclear whether it was directly connected to the suspects.
The Kansas City Police Department’s Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation, and prosecutors in Jackson County have already filed charges against 22‑year‑old Joseph Watson. He faces counts of second‑degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, first‑degree assault, and multiple counts of armed criminal action. Authorities allege Watson fired the shots that killed Partee and injured the second victim.
The Popeyes location at 31st and Prospect has long been a busy corridor in Kansas City, and residents expressed concern about violence erupting in a public space where families and workers gather. The shooting marked the ninth homicide in Kansas City in 2026, underscoring the city’s ongoing struggle with gun violence. Police have urged anyone with information to call the TIPS hotline at 816‑474‑TIPS, stressing that community cooperation is vital to solving the case.
For Partee’s family and friends, the tragedy has brought immense grief. He was remembered as a young man whose life ended abruptly in a place meant for everyday routines. As the investigation continues and charges move forward in court, the community awaits justice while grappling with the broader issue of safety in public spaces.