Ta'Ron Carson was not the intended target of fatal shooting, KC police say

Ta'Ron M. Carson, whose fatal shooting Sunday was being investigated as a possible hate crime, now appears not to have been the intended target of the shooting, according to Kansas City police.

Police are still investigating the killing of Carson, who was gunned down about 3 a.m. early Sunday after leaving a dance club near 39th and Main streets.

Carson was well-known in the LGBTQ community, and some of his friends feared he might have been shot because he was gay. A team of investigators, including some from the FBI, were examining the incident to determine whether the shooting would classify as a hate crime.

On Tuesday, police said preliminary findings in the investigation determined that Carson was not the intended victim. Police said they hope to locate a suspect soon.

Carson had been at Aura, a dance club on Main Street near 39th Street. Friends with him were not aware of any conflicts or concerns when he left.

He worked for Chipotle Mexican Grill in the Power & Light District. He was also a makeup artist at Sephora.

A candlelight vigil will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Center for Spiritual Living, 1014 W. 39th St. Organizers will meet at the center to share memories of Carson.

"Everyone who knew Ta'Ron knew he was full of life," the event posting on Facebook said. "He touched all of our hearts. Let's all come together and light a candle for Ta'Ron. Let's all share the wonderful memories he left us."

Afterward, a walk will be held to CVS at 39th and Main, where Carson was shot.

Ian Cummings: 816-234-4633, @Ian__Cummings

This story was originally published March 6, 2018 at 4:09 PM with the headline "Ta'Ron Carson was not the intended target of fatal shooting, KC police say."