After horticulturalist is slain in Overland Park, man linked to case dies by suicide
A horticulturalist who founded a consulting firm was fatally shot Monday morning outside the Overland Park office center where he worked, according to police.
Hours later in Kearney, another man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an SUV that police said matched the description of a vehicle from the homicide.
The victim of the homicide in Overland Park was David L. Flick, a 59-year-old Cass County resident and a founder of Terra Technologies. He was shot outside the Deer Creek Office Center, where his office was located, in the 6200 block of West 135th Street in Overland Park, according to Officer John Lacy, a spokesman for the Overland Park Police Department.
Flick was found dead about 8:15 a.m., lying beside his pickup truck, Lacy said.
Flick had just arrived at work when he was killed, stunned co-workers said. Flick’s brother, Steve Flick, 61, said David Flick had dropped his boys, ages 11 and 6, off at school before heading to the office.
David Flick left behind a wife who is 3 months pregnant, his brother said. His family was shocked by the killing.
“We’re pretty much numb right now,” Steve Flick said.
Police have not discussed a motive for the shooting.
Clay County suicide
Hours later, Clay County deputies spotted an SUV that matched a vehicle description released by Overland Park police in Flick’s death.
They pulled it over about 1:30 p.m. at Missouri 92 and Porter Ridge Road in Kearney.
The deputies called Kearney police for backup, said Capt. Will Akin, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. As the deputies conducted the traffic stop, they heard a single gunshot from inside the suspect vehicle, he said.
The man died by suicide, officials said.
Investigators said he may have been connected to Flick’s death, but did not say how.
He was identified Monday night as Scott MacDonald, 60.
No one else was inside the SUV, Akin said. No other injuries were reported.
“Overland Park detectives are up here, just confirming information, but they probably wouldn’t know the connection until after ballistics have been tested and reviewed,” Akin said.
‘A true environmentalist’
With a background in horticulture, botany and natural resource management, David Flick founded Terra Technologies in 1992. Members of his firm have experience with wetland and stream mitigation projects.
Flick was supervising bio-engineering designs for projects in Kansas and Missouri, according to his company’s website.
Flick graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture in 1983 and a master’s degree in biochemistry two years later. He had more than 20 years of experience in his field.
Steve Flick remembered his only brother, a big Kansas City Royals fan, as an energetic and smart man who loved to hunt and fish. The two grew up on a farm together. David Flick was passionate about working in conservation, keeping natural resources for the next generation, his brother said.
“He was a true environmentalist, conservationist,” Steve Flick said. “He will be missed.”
Flick’s killing marked Overland Park’s third homicide this year. In 2018, the city recorded four homicides, according to data kept by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.
This story was originally published October 28, 2019 at 4:11 PM.
