Local

Firefighters pull body from Missouri River near Riverfront Park in Kansas City

Riverfront Park sits on the banks of the Missouri River in Kansas City. The park has a boat ramp and is poorly maintained.
Riverfront Park sits on the banks of the Missouri River in Kansas City. The park has a boat ramp and is poorly maintained. Tljungblad@kcstar.com

A death investigation is underway after firefighters pulled a body from the Missouri River near Riverfront Park east of downtown Kansas City, a police spokesman said.

Officers responded shortly after 6:15 p.m. Monday to investigate reports of a body floating in the Missouri near Riverfront Park, which is located near Front Street and Riverfront Road, said Sgt. Phil DiMartino with the Kansas City Police Department.

A water rescue crew from the Kansas City Fire Department responded to the park around 6:20 p.m. to assist police with retrieving the body, said Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins, a spokesman for the fire department.

Firefighters spotted the body floating just east of the boat ramp, in the current about 40 to 50 offshore and launched a rescue boat. They recovered the body about 6:50 p.m., Hopkins said.

The investigation into the person’s death is ongoing, DiMartino said. The person’s identity was unknown.

Robert A. Cronkleton
The Kansas City Star
Robert A. Cronkleton is a breaking news reporter for The Kansas City Star, covering crime, courts, transportation, weather and climate. He’s been at The Star for 36 years. His skills include multimedia and data reporting and video and audio editing. Support my work with a digital subscription
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER