Kansas City marked its 123rd homicide of the year early Thursday morning.
Shortly after 1:15 a.m. Kansas City, Mo. Police Department (KCPD) officers were dispatched to Independence and The Paseo for a shooting.
Witnesses on the scene directed officers to a field nearby where they found an unresponsive adult black male suffering from gunshot wounds. EMS responded to the scene where they pronounced the victim dead.
The victim has since been identified as 58-year-old Montez Blake.
Detectives continued their investigation at the scene by speaking with witnesses to gather more information about what led up to the fatal shooting, as well as suspect information. Crime scene investigators processed the scene earlier this morning to gather evidence.
Police ask anyone who has any information about what may have occurred to call the homicide unit at 816-234-5043 or 816-474-TIPS. Anyone with information leading to an arrest is eligible to receive up to a $25,000 cash reward.
This is an ongoing investigation. Our story will be updated as more information becomes available.