In the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, a life of entrepreneurial spirit and familial devotion was cut short on a Thursday afternoon. Waleed Marwan Shaban, a 34-year-old man of Lebanese heritage, was fatally shot on November 14, 2024, in the parking lot of his own business located in the 300 block of East Linwood Boulevard. Born and raised in Hutchinson, Kansas, Shaban was a graduate of Wichita State University with a degree in electrical engineering.
He had channeled his ambition into several successful businesses, with ventures in real estate, construction, insurance, and auto sales. His family remembered him as a man whose smile could light up a village, a loving son, brother, and uncle with a passion for his faith and family.
The events that led to the tragedy began to unfold around 1 p.m. when police were called to the Broadway Gillham neighborhood. Upon arrival, they discovered Shaban unresponsive, suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical responders. An investigation quickly began, and a person of interest was taken into custody at the scene. The individual was later identified as 24-year-old Kandi J. Galaviz. According to court documents and witness statements, the fatal encounter was preceded by a heated argument.
The dispute reportedly arose over missing belongings that Galaviz was attempting to retrieve from a repossessed vehicle. The confrontation between Galaviz and Shaban escalated from verbal to physical. Witnesses, including one of Shaban's employees, recounted that Shaban pushed Galaviz to the ground during the altercation. It was at this moment that Galaviz allegedly drew a handgun and shot Shaban at point-blank range. One witness told authorities they heard Galaviz challenge Shaban, saying, 'square up and do something,' just before the shooting. The entire incident was captured on the business's surveillance cameras.
Following the investigation, Kandi J. Galaviz was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Waleed Shaban's death. She was taken into custody and held on a $250,000 bond. The death marked another homicide for Kansas City in 2024, leaving a family and a community to mourn the loss of a man described as a vibrant and driven individual.
