Kansas City businessman shot to death at gas pump

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Police on Tuesday released the name of the man shot and killed at a gas station Monday afternoon in Kansas City, and it’s a local remodeling businessman.

The homicide victim was identified as Kirk Whittaker, 34, of Kansas City. Whittaker ran Whittaker Remodeling LLC, a Kansas City-based business that was registered with the state in 2018.

Whittaker has no criminal history, and there’s no indication that he was involved in any illegal activity.

Officer Jake Becchina said Whittaker had been involved in an incident at the Bannister Mart gas station near James A. Reed and Bannister Road around 1 p.m. His vehicle had been parked near a gas pump. It’s not clear what led up to the fatal shooting, or whether Whittaker knew his attacker.

KCPD said officers canvassed the area for possible eyewitnesses and will review any surveillance video that is available. Because the area where the shooting happened is heavily traveled, investigators are hopeful that someone with information will come forward.

“Someone may have seen or heard something that would give them a little bit better idea of what led up to the shooting,” Becchina said.

Next to the gas station was a busy daycare center. Aubrionna Donahue, the director of Blue Diamond Childcare, said she was thankful their two dozen or so children had been inside napping when the shooting happened.

“It’s really sad that this could happen at a gas station right next door,” Donahue said. “I feel like we need to be safer in our communities.”

A manager at Bannister Mart told KCTV5 they had turned surveillance video over to police.

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