KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Police released surveillance video on Friday of a man they described as a person of interest in a murder near Uptown Theater two weeks ago.
Michael Silas, a 23-year-old father of four children, was shot and killed on May 11 in a parking lot near the theater after leaving a rap concert.
Hours after police released the video, 41 Action News spoke to Silas’s mother about the development.
“If they can find the person of interest maybe they can find his murderer,” Margo Lampkin said. “There is hope that someone will be caught for his murder.”
Two weeks after the crime, a wreath for Michael sits on a living room table near the front door of Lampkin’s home.
During stories she told about her son growing up, Lampkin still had many smiles.
“Michael was very funny. He loved his kids,” she said. “He not only touched me, he touched everybody. Everybody called him their son.”
Lampkin said Michael decided to a leave a life on the street behind after experiencing the tragic loss of his three-month-old daughter in February.
“After Michael lost his daughter, he gave his life over to Christ,” his mother said. “He was giving all that up to better himself for his daughter.”
Months after Lampkin said Michael turned his life around, the family was dealt with absolute heartbreak two weeks ago.
“He didn’t tell us that he was going to a concert,” she said, through tears. “Twenty-three years with him I loved him to death. I loved him so much. For you to take his life, you took a chunk of me.”
Following the release of the surveillance video, Lampkin hoped someone would come forward with information on what happened to her son.
“Whoever did this, I don’t know the reason why but I forgive you for whatever you did to my son,” she said. “You have to have justice.”
The shooting took place around 11:30 pm on Friday, May 11 outside the Uptown Theater.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 816-474-TIPS (8477).
