Kansas City police investigate fatal shooting of a man found near homeless camp

Kansas City police are investigating the shooting death of a man found near a homeless encampment in the area of Independence Avenue and the Paseo.

Officers were summoned to the area on a reported shooting just before 2 p.m. Arriving officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, said Capt. Leslie Foreman, police spokeswoman.

The name of the victim has not been released. Foreman said the victim was in the area of a homeless camp located north of Independence Avenue.

“From what I understand (the shooting) was in the camp,” Foreman said. “I don’t know the status of the victim as far as his personal situation.”

A woman who lives at the homeless camp and was at the scene said the victim, who she described as being in his 30s, lived at the camp.

The woman, who asked not to be identified by name, was not at the camp when the shooting took place, she was working at Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus, which is located on Virginia Avenue. She told The Star the camp is generally peaceful.

Police did not release a description of the shooter. Details of what led to the shooting were not released.

Investigators combed the area gathering evidence and looking for potential witnesses.

No other details were released.

This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 4:20 PM.