Monday night about 7:15 p.m., Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) officers were called to Kessler Park near the 200 block of Wabash on a medical/EMS call.

According to police, a park goer was passing through on the main road and saw an adult male down on the ground just off the road; unresponsive. They called for an ambulance. Police and EMS responded and EMS declared the victim deceased at the scene.

Officers called for detectives, who determined that due to the unknown injuries and unknown cause of death they would call for homicide investigators to conduct a suspicious death investigation. On Tuesday, the death was upgraded to a homicide. The victim was identified as 48-year-old Akil Collins.

“Because this is a public park and we only get one chance to process the scene that way, so they are using all their resources available at this time,” a representative from KCPD Media said.

Crime scene investigators and medical examiners will be processing the scene for any evidence or indication how the victim died. The medicinal examiner will be the one to determine cause of death.

If anyone saw anything or has any information they are asked to call the Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043, or the TIPS hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS.