Victim dies on way to hospital after being shot in Kansas City; man taken into custody

One man is dead, and police are holding another man for further questioning after a shooting in Kansas City’s Oak Park Southwest neighborhood, a police spokeswoman said.

Officers responded shortly after 8:30 p.m. Thursday to a disturbance in the 4200 block of Agnes Avenue, said Officer Alayna Gonzalez with the Kansas City Police Department. While on their way, the officers were told that someone might have been shot.

Arriving officers found a man who had been shot and was unresponsive on the porch of a home in the neighborhood, Gonzalez said. They began rendering medical aid. Once emergency medical crews arrived, they took the victim to the hospital.

Officers were told the man died while on the way to the hospital.

The victim was identified as 58-year-old Rodney Garner, Gonzalez said.

Another man was later taken into custody and was being held pending further investigation into the killing.

Gonzalez said there was no preliminary information indicating what led up to the deadly shooting. Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators responded to the scene to gather evidence and speak with any witnesses.

Garner’s death is Kansas City’s 113th homicide of the year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. By this time in 2023, which was Kansas City’s deadliest year, there were 142 killings. Last year, the city ended the year with a total of 185 homicides.

Anyone with information about the killings is asked to call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS (8744). Information submitted anonymously to the hotline can earn a reward of up to $25,000. Witnesses can also contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043.