Cost-free funeral service is set for man who was killed in crash alongside KCPD officer

A local funeral home is providing a cost-free, public funeral for the pedestrian who was killed in a collision along with a Kansas City Police Department officer and police dog.

Staff with Newcomer’s White Chapel Funeral Home have organized the service for Jesse Eckes, set to take place at 10 a.m. on March 3 at Hope Faith Ministries at 705 Virginia Ave. in Kansas City.

Eckes had experienced homelessness for several years, receiving assistance from his friends at Hope Faith. He had finally found a place of his own just a few weeks before his death.

On Feb. 15, 18-year-old Jerron Lightfoot of Tonganoxie sped through a red light and hit a KCPD patrol car, which then struck Eckes, who was sitting at the intersection.

Lightfoot has since been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree.

Eckes, 52, was described by Doug Langner, executive director of Hope Faith, as the “eyes and ears” of their operations, helping find others in need of help and welcoming them in.

“We in essence lost another person who was trying to just do his best to move people forward while he was trying to do the same with his own life,” Langner said in a previous interview with The Star.

Samantha Price, funeral director apprentice with Newcomer’s White, said the funeral home has a program that helps pay for services of first-responders. After assisting with Officer James Muhlbauer’s services, she said they wanted to make sure Eckes was honored as well.

“We wanted to make sure Jesse and his family were taken care of in some way,” she said.

Price has been in close contact with Eckes’ family — including his niece Britannie Eckes — who was shocked and devastated to hear of her uncle’s death.

“We’re all heartbroken,” she said. “He definitely did not deserve this. He was doing good.”

Price said the service will be public, and all are welcome to attend. Eckes’ family is asking attendees to donate to Hope Faith Ministries in honor of him.

“He was such a big part of that organization,” she said. “They’ve helped so many people year round.”