Kansas City police on Monday released the name of a driver killed in a car crash during a police pursuit Thursday afternoon. The man was also a suspect in a February homicide.

Police identified the driver as 22-year-old Twashon Wilkins.

Officers attempting to arrest Wilkins on a felony warrant tried to pull over a Chrysler Sebring just before 1:30 p.m. Thursday near East 40th and Olive Streets, according to the Kansas City Police Department.

That’s when the driver, Wilkins, allegedly rammed a patrol car and took off.

Wilkins drove south on Cleveland Avenue before losing control near East 46th Terrace and hitting an apartment building.

Wilkins, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at a hospital.

Police said he was a suspect in a Feb. 23 homicide in the 6700 block of Monroe Avenue, where 39-year-old Antonio Smith was found on the ground outside. Smith died at the scene, police said.

It was the 24th homicide this year, according to data kept by The Star. The total is now up to 28.

Cortlynn Stark

The Kansas City Star

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Cortlynn Stark writes about finance and the economy for The Sum. She is a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ with the National Financial Educators Council. She previously covered City Hall for The Kansas City Star and joined The Star in January 2020 as a breaking news reporter. Cortlynn studied journalism and Spanish at Missouri State University.