One dead after fatal shooting in a parking lot near E 40 Highway

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Officers with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department have made “significant headway” in identifying a person of interest in a fatal shooting that resulted in the death of 49-year-old Marcos A. Munoz-Benitez.

Officers were called to the 7300 block of E. 40 Hwy just after 11:30 a.m. this morning and directed into the parking lot of an auto business where they located Munoz-Benitez unresponsive on the ground. EMS was called, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The owner of the business heard the gunfire and found Munoz-Benitez lying down in the parking lot, according to investigators. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are unclear and officers do not yet have a suspect, but said the shooting occurred in the parking lot, according to officers.

Detectives and crime scene investigators are on scene processing for evidence and canvassing for witnesses.

If anyone was in or around the area at this time and saw or heard anything, they are asked to contact homicide detectives directly at (816) 234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at (816) 474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

The KCPD is working with Partners for Peace in all homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents.