KCPD identifies man shot, killed outside Southwest Blvd. restaurant

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City police are investigating after someone in a vehicle shot another driver along Southwest Boulevard .

The Kansas City Police Department gave an update Tuesday morning confirming that the victim in Saturday night’s shooting died from their injuries. He was identified as 20-year-old Adrian Velez-Esparaza.

The vehicle of the driver who was shot rolled into the outdoor seating area of a popular, longtime restaurant, according to police.

“Southwest Boulevard is a heavily traveled part of our city,” Capt. Jake Becchina said.

Police said the shooting happened Saturday at about 7:30 p.m.

Witnesses told police they saw two people driving down Southwest Boulevard, under the I-35 bridge.

Police said one person fired shots at the other car, which then rolled into the outdoor seating area of La Bodega.

Police said there’s no indication that any shots were fired at or into La Bodega.

“The victim was struck by gunfire. That vehicle then slowly rolled toward the restaurant there,” Becchina said, “It kind of impacted the, up on the sidewalk, the seating area, and the outdoor patio area of that restaurant.”

People dining there called 911.

“The restaurant does not appear to be an intended target or anybody at the restaurant. It just was kind of a secondary location where the chain of events came to an end.”

Becchina said officers found a man unresponsive in his vehicle, with life-threatening injuries.

A woman who was there for dinner Saturday night said she heard the gunfire while walking to her table outside.

“At that point we heard about 3-4 shots, in which everybody kind of turned and looked and kind of ducked,” The witness, who asked not to be identified, said. “It was a moment of, your heart just kind of stops.”

After closing for business on Sunday, La Bodega is back open on Monday.

She said when the commotion happened some people ran to help the man in the vehicle who was hurt. She, along with others, called 911.

She said her family was still in shock.

“I remember being first inside the door and I remember thinking,” she said, “if the bullet comes through that glass, I have to be around the corner, so we crawled to the other side, beside the kitchen.”

The witness commended the staff for helping keep people safe, she said

“They’re a great community, they’re working hard,” she said, “and I don’t want to have their livelihood impacted by individuals that are making stupid decisions.”

She plans to go back to the restaurant soon to show support.

Detectives are still working to identify the suspects and the vehicle involved.

If you have any information that might help investigators, call the Tips Hotline. You can remain anonymous at (816) 474-8477.

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