KCK man identified as Kansas City homicide victim

A man shot to death early Sunday in Kansas City was identified Monday as 29-year-old Roberto E. Mejia.

Mejia, of Kansas City, Kan., was shot in the head just before 4 a.m. Sunday in the area of Eighth and Jefferson streets. He died later at a hospital. A second person suffered a gunshot wound to the hand during the incident, according to Kansas City police.

Mejia was among a large group of people gathered in a park at the time. Police said that people were “drinking and partying” when a gunman walked up and began firing shots.

The shooter ran south, witnesses told police.

Mejia’s killing was the 40th homicide in Kansas City this year. The city had reported 60 killings at the same time last year.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

Tony Rizzo, trizzo@kcstar.com

This story was originally published August 4, 2014 at 1:08 PM with the headline "KCK man identified as Kansas City homicide victim."