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A store employee in Kansas was charged with manslaughter after a suspected shoplifter died following a fight, authorities said.
Carl Kemppainen, 39, was arrested last week in connection with the death of 23-year-old Diamond Steen outside O’Reilly Auto Parts in Kansas City, the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office said.
“Based on the autopsy, it is clear that the cause of death was strangulation,” District Attorney Mark Dupree told reporters at a news conference. “The deceased’s airways were completely occluded and that ultimately caused his death.”
Steen and another male suspect entered the store and allegedly began shoplifting, police said. A fight then broke out between the men and store employees outside the store, resulting in Steen’s death. The other suspect was treated for minor injuries.
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Carl Kemppainen, 39, is charged with manslaughter in the death of 23-year-old Diamond Steen. (Wyandotte County Detention Center)
Dupree told reporters that no civilians, including shop assistants, to take such matters into their own hands.
“Make no mistake: It is law enforcement’s job to do the job of police, and no one else’s,” the prosecutor said.
Ivonnah Echols, Steen’s cousin, said the workers should have just called the police instead of getting involved.
“You need to stay away from the subject and call the police because you’re not even endangering yourself, you’re endangering the customers, you’re endangering the employees in the store,” Echols said. KCTV.
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Dupree said he does not believe race played a role in the incident.
“I can’t say there is a racial component other than the fact that the deceased is an African American and the defendant is a white male,” he said. “I don’t think that played a role in the concern about the act.”
Kemppainen was arrested at the Wyandotte County Detention Center on a $125,000 bond, the news outlet reported. He was released after posting bond, according to online jail records.
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Steen leaves behind his two sons and is expecting a third child, according to the channel.
