Independence  Avenue remains closed this morning between Van Brint Blvd. and Elmwood as police investigate the city’s latest homicide.

Sunday morning at approximately 2:30 am, officers responded to the 4700 block of Independence Avenue on a sound of shots call. While they were en route, a number of other calls came in regarding shots fired in the area.
Upon arrival, officers learned that multiple victims had been taken to area hospitals in private vehicles.

Two victims had non life threatening injuries, and another had life threatening injuries from apparent gun shot wounds. The fourth victim was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

According to witness accounts, a very large group of people, easily numbering in the hundreds had gathered in the area. A dispute between several individuals in a nearby parking lot is what is believed to have led to the shooting. Some windows at Fire Station 23 were also shot out during the melee.

Detectives are canvassing for witnesses and crime scene investigators are processing the scene for evidence to try to give detectives more information about what led up to the incident. Dozens of orange cones dot the parking lot and street where shell casings were located.

If anyone has any information 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.