Friends devastated after man killed leaving downtown entertainme - KCTV5

Police are searching for the gunman responsible for fatally shooting a man inside an underground parking garage at the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City.

An off-duty officer responded to a disturbance call at 2:30 a.m. Sunday at 151 East 13th St.

Upon arrival, police found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Nicholas R. Preuitt, who would have turned 28 on Friday, would die from his injuries.

Witnesses say the victim was talking to some girls in another car, delaying motorists trying to leave the garage. A witness told KCTV5 that the suspect walked up to the victim and shot him in the chest, and wasn't part of the initial argument.

The suspect was last seen leaving in a small- to medium-size dark-colored SUV. The suspect was described as a black man with long braids. Police have interviewed two men who were with Preuitt when he was shot. Police also interviewed potential witnesses inside the Big Sky bar.

Preuitt worked at Ford Motor Co. Family and friends have turned to social media to mourn his death. Grieving friends have shared personal stories about Preuitt on social media including how he enjoyed off roading and cars.

Friends and family members also hope that surveillance video can lead to an arrest.

"I just hope that they come up with something. Some kind of clue, some kind of information to get this guy off the street," said longtime friend Kevin Bullard. "Never in a million years did I think something like that would happen to him."

Anyone with information is urged to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

Cordish, which oversees the operations of the entertainment district and the parking garages, issued the following statement:

"We would like to express our condolences to the family of the victim. There is nothing that we take more seriously than the safety of our customers, and we take great pride in the record of safety that we have had in our seven years of operation. We will continue to work closely with the Kansas City police department and the City of Kansas City to ensure that downtown remains one of the safest neighborhoods in Kansas City," the statement said.