Tributes have been flooding in for an Irish chef who was tragically shot dead outside his restaurant in the US on Wednesday evening .
Shaun Brady , originally from Co Tipperary but running the Brady's KC Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, was killed following a confrontation with a group outside his establishment.
Investigators believe the chef was taking out the rubbish when he spotted several individuals allegedly attempting to break into a car. The 44-year-old tried to intervene but was ultimately shot and the group fled the scene.
Police rushed to the scene and discovered Mr Brady's unresponsive body with multiple gunshot wounds. Kansas City police began performing "life-saving measures" before he was hurried to the hospital, where he later passed away.
In a statement, Sergeant Phil DiMartino of Kansas City Police Department said his officers will speak to several witnesses and will examine CCTV footage in the area after launching a homicide investigation.
The senior officer stated: "Upon arrival, officers located an adult male victim in a back parking lot adjacent to several businesses.
"The victim was suffering from gunshot wounds and the officers began performing life-saving measures. Emergency medical personnel responded and transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced deceased. Forensic teams were on the site Thursday, collecting evidence."
Following the incident, Kansas Police have now arrested two young individuals for their alleged involvement in the shooting.
Brady's KC released a heartfelt statement: "Our hearts are broken. There are no words to express our sadness, anger, and frustration. Our community is with Shaun's family - forever. We appreciate the outpouring of support, offers to help, and your love. Together we are united. Together we will grieve. Together we will heal."
A patron at the establishment during the tragic event shared on Facebook: "I was at Brady's KC yesterday when Shaun Brady was tragically murdered. It was yet another senseless killing in the city we love. It makes me sad and angry for so many reasons."
Grieving messages have been flooding in for Mr Brady across the globe. A close mate penned: "This morning I awoke to the news that my friend Shaun Brady, was senselessly murdered outside his restaurant last night...
"I'm sad because I'll never hear Shaun's raspy Irish voice again, Sad because I'll never get to bring him fresh veggies from my gardens. Sad because his talents are lost forever. Sad because his friends and family are grieving his loss and will so for the rest of their lives."
A grief-stricken friend revealed plans to open a bottle of Paddy's Old Irish Whiskey gifted by Mr Brady, despite having promised to save it for their next meeting. They shared: "He also brought me this bottle. I told him I would keep it until our next meet up and I did.
Today, I'm popping the top cause as he would say, 'It's 11 o'clock somewhere, chef'."
Pat O'Neill, a friend of Mr Brady, expressed his shock to FOX4: "The Irish community is totally stunned. He was a beloved figure, a native of Ireland, just a generous do anything for anyone kind of guy, so, a lot of us again, stunned, praying, angry, wondering why."
Over in Ireland, Nenagh Councillor Seamus Morris (NP) praised the late Shaun Brady as a "great ambassador" for his hometown and country. He remarked: "I am a postman to many of his cousins and to his grandmother, Lillian, and they are all in absolute shock that a life could be ended so needlessly. I met his cousin this morning and I sympathized with them.
"It is an awful tragedy for his family and of course his family in Kansas. He was a great ambassador for us all."
Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh also remembered Mr Brady fondly, describing him as a "really lovely guy" from their school days.
Mr Brady was actively involved with the Irish-American community in Kansas and was gearing up to participate in the annual Kansas City Irish Fest.
The chef had also graced television screens with cooking demonstrations in the past. Brady's restaurant, co-owned with chef Graham Farris, was known for its authentic Irish cuisine.
Reflecting on his culinary journey in a 2022 interview with the Kansas City Star, Mr Brady shared that his passion for cooking began while assisting his single mother and was honed by watching his granny in the kitchen.
In a recent interview, he shared that, in his youth, while all his friends dreamed of becoming firefighters and police officers, he aspired to don the chef's hat. Recalling those days, he noted: "My mammy was very, very against me being a chef. It took her quite a few years to come around."
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