In the early morning hours of August 19, 2018, a young man's journey was tragically cut short on the streets of Kansas City, Missouri. Dante Wachtler, a 25-year-old male, was found shot to death near 9th and Harrison. He was a chef who had traveled over a thousand miles from Long Beach, California, with aspirations of starting a new life in St. Joseph. Wachtler was reportedly waiting for a Greyhound bus to head back to California when he walked away from the station.
Unfamiliar with the area, he was tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The incident occurred around 5 a.m., and when police arrived, they discovered Wachtler deceased in the street. His mother, Toni Priore, later expressed the family's devastation, stating, 'My son was a loving son, and many people loved him, and he's been taken away from us. It's not right. It's not fair. No one should have to deal with this.' She acknowledged that her son wasn't perfect but emphasized that he did not deserve to die in such a violent manner.
In the wake of the shooting, investigators released a photograph of a small, silver or gold four-door car that was seen leaving the area at the time of the homicide. Despite this lead, the case has grown cold, and as of the latest reports, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Kansas City Police Department has continued to seek information from the public.
Dante Wachtler's family has continued to advocate for justice, hoping that someone will come forward with information that could lead to a breakthrough in the case. A reward of $10,000 has been offered for information that leads to a conviction. His mother traveled to Kansas City to bring attention to her son's unsolved murder, pleading for anyone with knowledge of the crime to speak up. The family remains hopeful that they will one day see justice for Dante.
