Man Goes To Kansas City Target. Here’s Why He’s Calling It The ‘Scariest Target In America’

A man has sparked internet discussion after claiming a Kansas City Target location is the “scariest” in America. But why?

In a video with over 426,000 views, TikTok user @djhoneypot shows himself in his car outside of a Target location.

“This is the scariest target in America,” the TikToker declares. “I still will never get over what happened in this parking lot to Kelsey Smith in 2007.”

“I remember I was, like, kind of around that age, and it’s super scary,” he continues. “And every time I come here, I just get the heebie-jeebies. Every time.”

What Happened In This Parking Lot?

For those who are unaware of the story, Kelsey Smith was an 18-year-old girl who was abducted in 2007.

As reported by People, Kelsey visited a Target location—the one shown in the TikToker’s video—in order to buy an anniversary gift for her boyfriend.

When she didn’t show up for her planned date, Kelsey’s boyfriend and parents became concerned. They went to the store to look for the car but saw no sign of it. They also contacted the police.

After searching the area for hours, they eventually found Kelsey’s car. It was parked at a Macy’s across the street—with no one inside, scrubbed clean of fingerprints and things like Kelsey’s phone and keys.

Seeing this, police attempted to get Kelsey’s phone records. However, Verizon, the company providing Kelsey’s cell phone service, did not immediately provide them.

Kelsey Is Found

After ruling out family members and Kelsey’s boyfriend as subjects, police reviewed surveillance footage from the Target. At this time, they observed a then-unidentified man appearing to follow Kelsey through the Target. Later security footage saw the man force Kelsey into her car; he was also captured getting out of Kelsey’s car in the Macy’s parking lot.

Using this footage, police were able to identify a subject: Edwin Hall. Additionally, search efforts resulted in Kelsey being found four days later. She was dead, having been murdered via strangulation.

A subsequent trial linked Hall to the crime in various ways. In 2008, he eventually pleaded guilty to capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, rape and aggravated sodomy, for which he received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

A Push For Change

Since the events of 2007 and 2008, the Smith family has pushed for changes that they believe would have assisted the investigation into Kelsey’s abduction.

For example, given that it took several days for Verizon to provide cell phone records to investigators, the Smith family has put pressure on state governments to pass what are now known as “Kelsey Smith Laws.” This allows law enforcement to quickly receive the location of one’s cell phone if it has been determined that they are at risk of death or serious physical harm.

Currently, this or similar legislation has been passed in over 30 states.

Not only that, but the family currently runs the Kelsey Smith Foundation. This charity, per its website, seeks to “honor and perpetuate the life of Kelsey Smith by empowering families, friends, and communities to proactively protect one of its most precious resources, namely its youth and young adults.”

Commenters Are Terrified

In the comments section, users offered their own experiences with the parking lot and store shown in the video.

“I went to school with her. Graduated a year ahead and had classes with her for 3 of the 4 years in HS. Nearly 20 years later I still think of her every time I’m over there,” wrote a user.

“My family and I were literally at the mall the day this happened… and we were never allowed to go to that target again. Even as a 27 year old… I don’t go in,” shared another.

“It’s so scary to think that it was just a quick run in to target for her,” stated a third. “He preyed on her.”

BroBible reached out to @djhoneypot via TikTok direct message and comment as well as to Target via email.