Man killed near downtown remembered as being ‘helpful in any possible way’

A Wichita State University international student, who asked not to be named, spoke with his gregarious neighbor, Kamilu Boyede, Tuesday night. They usually talked about cars and life.

He found out Wednesday that Boyede, 50, had been killed.

“He was like a mentor to me,” the student said. “He is an amazing man.”

Another neighbor described Boyede as a nice man who liked to work on cars. That’s how he made a living.

Wednesday morning, one of Boyede’s neighbors noticed that his door was ajar and called police. When officers arrived, they found Boyede dead with multiple gunshot wounds, Officer Kevin Wheeler said. The home is in the 600 block of South Ida, near Washington and Kellogg.

On Wednesday afternoon, family members and a pastor consoled each other outside of the home. Boyede has lived alone since his wife, Laquita Boyede, died a few months ago, said Dr. Janice Martin, a senior pastor at the church Boyede attended, The Books of Acts Tabernacle of Praise.

Martin said Boyede had been coming to church faithfully since his wife died. With his Nigerian accent, he would correct Martin on how to say his last name. He said Boyede with such pride, she said.

“He would be helpful in any possible way he could,” Martin said. “He brought his whole family on Sunday. He was so proud.”

Stretching her arms wide, she said he had his arms stretched out like this around his family.

Martin said she knew some of his stepdaughters since they were children.

“He hella cool,” his stepdaughter, Markazia Block, said. “He stayed to himself.”

Block, 26, said she attended church with him on Sunday. She texted him on Wednesday morning, but he never responded.

The neighbor who called 911 said that her children said they heard gunshots or fireworks on Tuesday night. They didn’t think anything of it until they saw the door ajar Wednesday.

This story was originally published November 25, 2020 at 1:24 PM.