Police investigating shooting of man found unresponsive on Independence Avenue
Kansas City police are investigating the death of a man who was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound off Independence Avenue in northeast Kansas City last week.
Capt. Jake Becchina, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department, said in an email Friday evening that officers were called to the area of Independence and Monroe avenues around 6 a.m. June 9 on an ambulance call and found a man who was unresponsive behind a home.
The man was taken to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries, and police later learned on June 18 that he had died, Becchina said. The type of wounds the man suffered were not immediately clear as of Saturday morning.
The victim was identified as Mark Simmons, 53.
Investigators were able to conduct a limited interview of the victim before his death and responded to the scene last week and recovered evidence, Becchina said. Homicide detectives have now taken over the investigation, he said.
Anyone who may have information about the death may contact police at 816-234-5043 or call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS.
The death is Kansas City’s 65th homicide of 2026, according to data tracked by The Star, which also includes fatal police shootings. At this point last year, Kansas City had recorded 74 homicides.
This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 10:46 AM.
