KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, Police are investigating a fatal shooting near 18th and Vine streets.
A police spokesperson said the department received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the area just after midnight Wednesday.
When officers arrived at the location, they found evidence of a crime scene near 19th and Vine streets.
Around the same time, officers were notified a shooting victim had arrived at the hospital.
That victim, a man, later died. KCPD later identified the man as 32-year-old Mortez C. Falkner.
Police said their investigation indicates the shooting happened in the street to the south of the 19th and Vine streets intersection.
The shooting took place in almost in the exact same place where Gary Taylor was murdered in Aprilof 2021.
To address violence, the city council approved two new measures this summer.
In July, the council agreed to have the city begin paying roughly $150,000 annually to fund security in the 18th and Vine Historic Jazz entertainment district, which includes the intersection where the shooting happened.
In August, the council voted to create a community improvement district, which allows businesses within the district to collect an extra 1% in sales tax. That extra sales tax revenue will fund programs like security, blight removal and more.
It’s unclear if either initiative has begun. In April, the city began blocking off streets to vehicle traffic on weekend nights.
Detectives believe multiple people were nearby during Wednesday’s shooting and those people may have information about what led to the shooting.
Detectives would like to speak to anyone with details.
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For jurisdictions that utilize the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, anonymous tips can be made by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com.
Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.
