Charges show south KC store owner fatally shot during fight over stolen chips, drink
The owner of a south Kansas City convenience and liquor store who was fatally shot Feb. 10 was killed in a confrontation over chips and a drink that were allegedly stolen from his store, according to court documents.
Prosecutors announced Friday that Kevin L. Herring Jr., 25, of Kansas City, had been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in Jackson County Circuit Court in connection with the killing.
Officials identified the victim as 64-year-old Zulfiqar N. Ladhani, the owner of Joe’s Liquor and Convenience Store, in the 8000 block of Hickman Mills Drive.
“The fatal shooting that took the life of someone so cherished in our community is inexcusable and has no place in Jackson County,” Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said in a statement announcing the charges.
“Incidents like this one cause our community to come together to share their love and respect for the victim, who gave without hesitation and left a lasting impact on those around him. As we pursue justice for the victim, our thoughts remain with his family during this unimaginably difficult time.”
Police were called to the store around 6 p.m. Feb. 10 and found Ladhani suffering from a gunshot wound outside. He was declared dead at the scene.
Investigators determined Herring was in a group of three people that arrived at the convenience store in a Ford Expedition, according to court documents. One of them allegedly stole items from the store, and the three returned to the vehicle.
Ladhani followed them, approached the vehicle and pointed a gun at the person in the front-side passenger seat who allegedly stole the items, police said. The passenger returned the items, and the vehicle began to leave the parking lot.
As Ladhani returned to the store, the vehicle stopped and the driver, Herring, got out and into a “shooter’s stance,” police said. Multiple shots could be seen coming from the direction of Herring and the front passenger toward the store owner and another customer, police alleged. The Expedition then left the scene.
Ladhani fell to the ground holding the stolen items, two bags of chips and a beverage can, police said.
During the shooting, the customer ran to her vehicle and drove away as the Ladhani lay on the ground. She later told detectives she was not injured. “Several” people came to the store in vehicles and on foot and left without trying to help Ladhani, police said.
One of them stole Ladhani’s pistol, which was lying near the entrance to the store, police said. That person was identified and the firearm was recovered by police, according to court documents.
‘Never supposed to happen’
Investigators said the Expedition’s tags were registered to Herring and said booking photos of him matched surveillance images.
A person who was in the back seat of the Expedition was arrested Feb. 14. He told police after the store owner pointed the gun and was given the items back, Herring looked back and said, “(Expletive) this,” before he slammed the vehicle in park and got out. That person heard the shots and identified Herring as the suspect in the homicide, police said.
Herring was interviewed Thursday after he was arrested on unrelated charges, police said. Initially, he denied going to the convenience store that day, but eventually told police he was there after he was shown surveillance images of the group.
In court documents, police said Herring reported the store owner had pointed a gun at the group and said the passenger had handed back the items. Herring denied shooting the man. Police determined in their investigation that by the time the fatal shooting occurred, however, that nothing was keeping Herring from driving away, but allege he instead chose to stop, get out and fire toward Ladhani and the customer.
Herring confirmed the customer saw what happened and said she offered to pay for the items.
“(Ladhani) told them that nobody steals from him,” Herring allegedly reported.
“This (expletive) was never supposed to happen,” Herring allegedly told investigators. “It was not supposed to be like this.”
This story was originally published February 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM.
