In a harrowing incident in Kansas City, Missouri, a 17-year-old Black girl, identified as Amauri Hughes, lost her life in what appears to be a disturbing case of domestic violence.
The events unfolded on Sunday, revealing a troubling sequence of events involving her 19-year-old boyfriend, Tyheem V. Anderson.
Reports suggest that Hughes often sneaked out of her house to see Anderson, who reportedly had an order of protection filed against him by another person.
On the fateful day, a relative received a FaceTime call from Hughes, during which she was seen “sitting on a couch with her hands in the air, in what was described as a surrender position,” according to charging documents.
A male voice was heard saying, “You scared of me?” before the call abruptly dropped, leading to a frantic search by the concerned relative. Grandview Police Department was alerted, and they discovered Hughes in a residential lot with severe injuries, including stab wounds, a gunshot wound, bruises, cuts, abrasions, and broken teeth.
Anderson was subsequently arrested and charged with assault in the first degree, armed criminal action, and kidnapping in connection to Hughes’ death.
The charges were announced by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, emphasizing that the investigation remains active, and additional charges are being explored.
During the investigation at Anderson’s residence, authorities found what appeared to be blood in multiple locations, a knife on the couch, and a spent shell casing in the bedroom. Chemical luminol indicated a significant presence of blood throughout the residence.
Notably, in March 2022, a Jackson County judge issued a temporary order of protection, later upgraded to a full order, for a woman and child connected to Anderson. The judge deemed Anderson a significant risk, forbidding any contact with them. The order was set to expire in July, and it is reported to have possibly lapsed.
Family and friends of Amauri Hughes recently held a vigil in her honor.
Domestic violence statistics reveal the alarming frequency of such incidents. Nearly 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner every minute in the United States, amounting to over 10 million women and men each year.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that nearly half of all Black women, like Hughes, have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.
Tyheem V. Anderson is scheduled for a bond review hearing on November 27. As the legal proceedings unfold, this tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need to address and combat domestic violence within our communities.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org for assistance. All calls are toll-free and confidential, available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
