Police investigating Wednesday morning homicide after body found near downtown Kansas City
Update: The deceased has been identified as Brandon Branham, 31.
Police are investigating after a man was found dead with a gunshot wound Wednesday morning near downtown Kansas City, police said.
Officers were dispatched just before 9 a.m. to Troost Avenue and East 19th Street after receiving a call about a possible dead body. They found a man in a wooded area with a gunshot wound, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Detectives are investigating the death as a homicide, said Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a spokesperson with Kansas City police.
Police have not yet provided a name or age of the victim.
Detectives were canvassing for witnesses, physical evidence, or any surveillance footage Wednesday to help determine what led up to the man being shot.
Part of detectives’ investigative process will be looking into any recent calls for the sound of gunfire in the area, DiMartino said. No other information was immediately available Wednesday.
The killing is Kansas City’s 95th homicide in 2024, according to data maintained by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. At this time last year, Kansas City had recorded 133 homicides.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-8477. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.
This story was originally published August 21, 2024 at 1:13 PM.
