One neighbor is having an “I told you so” moment after her warning was ignored. Noah Banks said she texted her friends a day before a catastrophic roof collapse at a Family Dollar store in Kansas City, Missouri, because she was worried that the building’s front looked like it was buckling.
“I’ve been watching this for quite awhile now; please be careful the next time you go to Family Dollar, it’s falling,” Banks stated in a text message she sent to her friends.
The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) told People that the fatal incident happened on Sunday, July 27, at the store located at 3726 Broadway.
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According to Michael Hopkins, a representative for the Kansas City Fire Department, the front facade of the store fell apart. According to Hopkins, a 50-year-old woman was seriously hurt, and a 68-year-old man was killed. Two other persons were evaluated for injuries before being released.
Family members and neighbors recognized the deceased as Larry Banks, who had just left the store when the face of the building collapsed, according to KMBC. At the time, officials did not explain what caused the building to partially fall.
“The investigation remains open and there is not anything additional available at this time,” police said in an email to People on Tuesday, July 29. “As with any death investigation, detectives will work with prosecutors to determine if there are applicable charges.”
According to city records, the last time city inspectors visited the store building occurred on July 22, due to trash complaints, KMBC reported.
The Kansas City Star also reported that a photo attached to the July 22 inspection file appears to show the building’s corner and facade tilting and coming apart respectively.
A city inspector returned to the site after the partial collapse, and the store has been closed indefinitely, according to KMBC. The outlet noted that the building was owned by Arthur Fels Company.
In an earlier statement shared with KMBC, a representative for Arthur Fels Company said, “Our hearts and prayers and deepest sympathy go out to the family and friends of the gentleman that died and the individuals that were seriously hurt from this tragic accident.”
Meanwhile, Banks, who lives across from the Family Dollar store, told KMBC that she had been observing the building’s condition for some time, which prompted her to send the messages.
Cheryl Carson, a neighbor who received Banks’ warning text, told The Kansas City Star that she entered the store on Sunday morning, hours before the accident occurred, and started praying.
“When I went in there,” Carson recalled, “I talked to the lady at the counter … And I said, ‘Aren’t you guys scared about what’s getting ready to happen?’ I said, ‘This building looks like it’s getting ready to fall down.’ She said, ‘I know, you’re not the only one who has said something about that.’ ”
According to Carson, the employee claimed that the store’s management preferred “to wait and see what’s going to happen” because of air conditioning and maintenance concerns.
In a statement obtained by People, Family Dollar wrote, “We are deeply saddened by the tragedy at the leased Family Dollar store on Broadway Boulevard in Kansas City. Our hearts and thoughts are with those impacted. We are conducting wellness checks with our employees and offering them resources and assistance. The Company is conducting an investigation into this matter.”
A representative for the city of Kansas City shared a statement with People that read, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and the injuries that occurred. This is not something the city takes lightly. We are actively investigating this incident and working closely with multiple departments — including Public Works, Neighborhood Services, City Planning and Development, and the Kansas City Fire Department.”
Banks said her heart has been heavy since the incident, as reported by The Kansas City Star on July 28.
“I want that lady and that man to have justice for what happened to them both,” Banks said, per the newspaper. “For the last two days, before it happened — I am a follower of Christ Jesus — and I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to warn as many people as possible.”
“I believe that that man did not have to lose his life because they were aware of it,” she added.
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