Teen killed in CVS parking lot honored with smiley face balloons, on the one year anniversary

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Community members in Cape Girardeau honored the memory of a teenager whose death sent a shockwave through the community last February when she was gunned down in broad daylight.

KeMari Childress was just arriving at CVS where she worked as a pharmacy technician when she was met by people in a red vehicle.

Following a verbal confrontation between Childress and the vehicle’s occupants, court documents say Childress returned to her vehicle.
That’s when one of the people in the other vehicle got out and began shooting.

Childress was running away when she was struck and died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Friends and family honored Childress’ memory with a balloon release at Cape County Park South on Thursday, exactly one year from when she was killed on February 27, 2024.

Children ran through a crowd spotted with bright smiley yellow balloons, amidst a sea of faces that expressed a range of emotions. Some people smiled, some reflected to themselves as they remembered Childress, who died at just 17 years old.

They gathered under the pavilion where some of her friends spoke about the ways she touched their lives.

Gabby Knupp said at six-years old, Childress became her very first friend — a friendship they maintained for 13 years even after Childress moved away.

“KeMari was a beacon of joy and hope and happiness,” she said. “She needs to be remembered and honored.”

The crowd was quiet and thoughtful as they released the balloons — watching the golden orbs drifting up and across the sky.

Knupp said after Childress’ death she was also inside the Show Me Center as shots rang out at Cape Central High School’s graduation. Knupp wants the gun violence to stop.

“Gun violence is not okay,” she said. “After KeMari, my graduation had gun violence at it. And it’s just — it’s too much. It shouldn’t be happening. I’m sick of it, and everyone in Cape is sick of it.”

A volunteer leader with the Southeast Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, Leslie Washington did not know Childress in life but has since been a support to her family.

“We have to honor KeMari with action,” she said. “We can’t just let this young lady die in vain. We have to be respectful. We have to be mindful, and we have to do our part in the community of Cape.”

Knupp said if you see signs that gun violence may happen, take action and report it.

Three suspects were arrested last year in relation to Childress’ death.

Her ex-boyfriend Tre’marion Jones is facing multiple felony charges including first degree murder for her death.

At present, Jones is set to go to a jury trial, September 2, 2025.