Man found shot to death on sidewalk in east Kansas City neighborhood
Update: Police identified the man as Jerome A. Hawkins, 27.
A man died Wednesday after he was found with gunshot wounds in a Kansas City residential neighborhood, police said.
Officers responded just before 1:30 a.m. to the 2500 block of Hardesty Ave after a caller requested an ambulance for someone lying on the ground.
Officers found a man on the sidewalk, appearing to be suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Jake Becchina, a Kansas City Police Department spokesman.
Paramedics with the Kansas City Fire Department responded at the same time as officers and pronounced the man dead at the scene.
The man’s death is being investigated as a homicide, Becchina said. As of Wednesday morning, no one was in custody.
Police have not yet publicly identified the man who died.
Detectives are trying to determine what led to the shooting. They have been canvassing the scene for witnesses, physical evidence and any surveillance footage, Becchina said.
The killing is Kansas City’s 130th homicide this year, according to data maintained by The Star. At this time last year, the city had recorded 140 homicides.
Anyone with information is urged to contact homicide unit detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-8477. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 6:57 AM.
