Man fatally shot outside Kansas City home near 45th and Paseo

Kansas City police launched a homicide investigation after a man was fatally shot outside a Kansas City home late Wednesday afternoon.

Police officers were initially called to the house just north of the intersection of 45th Street and The Paseo before 5 p.m. in reference to several gunshots heard in the area, according to Sgt. Jacob Becchina, a Kansas City police spokesman. The call was then updated to a shooting.

A man was found on the front porch of the home, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he died a short time later. The victim’s name and age have not been released.

A few witnesses told police that three men ran west from the intersection after the shooting, Becchina said. The suspects were described as three Black males, one wearing a gray and black shirt and shorts and another wearing a white shirt and blue shorts. It is unknown what the third person was wearing. All three were described as being around 5 feet 9 inches tall.

Part of The Paseo remained blocked off as the investigation continued into the evening. Detectives were interviewing witnesses, Becchina said.

“It’s a busy street, so hopefully somebody saw something, or maybe if they were driving by they can be urged to call the TIPS Hotline later if they saw something and didn’t want to stick around,” Becchina said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Kansas City Police Department Homicide Unit at 816-234-5043 or call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-8477. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

The killing marks at least the 93rd homicide reported in Kansas City this year, according to data maintained by The Star. By this time last year, 65 homicides had been recorded.

Gun violence will be the subject of a new, statewide journalism project The Star is undertaking in Missouri this year in partnership with the national service program Report for America and sponsored in part by Missouri Foundation for Health. As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help.

To contribute, visit Report for America online at reportforamerica.org.

This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 6:27 PM.