Witnesses and Girlfriend Recall Tragic KC Dollar Store Collapse

A Tragic Collapse at Family Dollar in Kansas City

Laurie Whisler’s cigarette trembled between her fingers as she stood outside the wreckage of the Family Dollar store, tears streaming down her face. Dressed in a gray shirt and beanie despite the sweltering heat of Kansas City, she leaned on her walker, overwhelmed by grief. Her long-term boyfriend, Larry Banks, had just died when part of the building collapsed on Sunday afternoon.

The Kansas City Fire Department was called to the scene at around 2:45 p.m. after reports of a partial collapse at the Family Dollar located on the 3700 block of Broadway Boulevard. When emergency crews arrived, they found that part of the front facade had come down, trapping several people inside.

Whisler described the moment the collapse happened. She was at the cashier buying cigarettes when she heard a loud crackling noise. “Next thing we know, the whole thing just fell down,” she said. She was trapped inside with an employee for at least 15 minutes, watching as emergency responders helped a woman outside, just feet away from where Banks was buried under the rubble.

“He would’ve been alive if they would’ve gotten to him,” Whisler said. “They got to that lady first, didn’t even try to help him. Didn’t even try.”

Just minutes before the collapse, Whisler and Banks were preparing for a relaxing afternoon. His TV and coffee were left on, expecting their return, she said. But the accident changed everything.

Witness Accounts Reveal Chaos and Desperation

Kristel Smith, who was visiting her mother in the Valentine Apartments next door, heard about the collapse from her five-year-old child. She had just left the building 15 minutes earlier and noticed damage inside. “I ran downstairs instantly and I was praying it wasn’t a worker,” she said. “I was praying there wasn’t nobody under there, but I just knew that once this outside fell that the inside would be falling too.”

Charles Ochlech, another witness, was exiting the Family Dollar when he heard the crash and saw the roof fall. He described how everyone rushed to help the woman outside, but no one noticed Banks in the middle of the rubble. “I could barely see the top of his head,” Ochlech said. He and others tried to dig him out, but police told them to step back due to the unstable structure.

Ciara Brown and her girlfriend were about to enter the store when the entryway collapsed. They helped try to free Banks, and Brown said she saw he was still breathing. “That was too much for me,” she said, describing the graphic injuries and the emotional toll of the scene.

Calls for Investigation and Accountability

Brown reported to the police, pleading for help, but was told that Banks was already dead. The experience left her heartbroken. “It just made me cry even more,” she said.

When asked about the last inspection of the building, Michael Hopkins, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Fire Department, said he couldn’t provide information immediately. He added that the department would need to check its records to determine if there were any previous concerns about the structural integrity of the building.

The Kansas City Police Department is investigating the incident since it resulted in a fatality. According to Hopkins, this is standard procedure in such cases.

Community Grieves and Demands Answers

The tragedy has left the community in shock and mourning. Residents and witnesses alike are calling for transparency and accountability. Questions remain about why the building collapsed and whether any prior warnings or inspections could have prevented the loss of life.

As the investigation continues, Laurie Whisler and others affected by the incident are left to grapple with the pain of losing someone so close. The events of that fateful day will not soon be forgotten.