Shooting at Country Club Plaza: KCPD announces suspects in custody, no injuries

Kansas City police swarmed over the Country Club Plaza Tuesday, searching for a man with a gun after someone reportedly opened fire on three men in a car on 47th Street shortly before noon.

Police announced about 3 p.m. that two suspects were in custody and police were not looking for anyone else.

Earlier, police had asked the public to avoid the area during the search, which continued into the early afternoon.

Capt. Lionel Colón, a Kansas City police spokesman, said police and agency partners had the area “contained” and were searching for suspects. Police were searching all Plaza parking garages, which remained in a state of lockedown until the searches were completed.

Officers first responded to the shooting about 11:45 a.m. near 47th and Jefferson streets.

Several people appeared to be involved in the incident, police said. No injuries were reported.

A witness reported hearing five gunshots outside the Shake Shack restaurant on 47th Street, east of Jefferson Street near Central Street.

Someone opened fire on three men in a Jetta, the witness said. A police officer in an unmarked car arrived on the scene immediately and drew his gun on the driver of the Jetta, who got out and showed that he was not armed.

“It’s crazy,” said Chris Williams, who was on the Plaza at the time. “It’s The Plaza. It’s like 12:45 or 12 on a Tuesday afternoon. This isn’t supposed to happen. It’s surreal.”

Police said they had one person, described as a male, in custody. But police continued to search for suspects.

Three more people, all males, who were thought to be involved in the incident ran into some nearby parking garages at 47th and Summit streets, police said.

Police put parking garages in the area on lockdown and several police officers with rifles were searching them. No one would be able to remove their vehicle from the parking garages during the search, police said.

People already on the Plaza did not need to hide in businesses, police said, but officers were trying to limit foot and car traffic near 47th and Summit.

Buildings around 47th Street were reported to be on lockdown.

An employee who answered the phone at the Shake Shack restaurant, 239 W. 47th Street, near where the gunfire was first reported, said no one at the restaurant was hurt.

The incident did not involve the business, the employee said. But the restaurant was closed while the police search continued.

Details of the shooting were still under investigation.

This story was originally published October 16, 2018 at 12:19 PM.