In what began as a road rage altercation on a summer evening in Kansas City, Missouri, 20-year-old Adrian 'Tony' Velez-Esparza, a male, tragically lost his life. On June 29, 2024, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Velez-Esparza was involved in a dispute with another driver in the 700 block of Southwest Boulevard. The confrontation escalated, and Velez-Esparza was fatally shot while in his vehicle.
Following the shooting, his car rolled into the outdoor seating area of the nearby La Bodega restaurant.
Emergency services arrived at the scene and transported Velez-Esparza to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. He succumbed to his injuries and passed away on July 1, 2024. Friends and family remembered him as a loyal and humorous individual with a passion for soccer, sneakers, and animals. In a testament to the impact he had on his community, a GoFundMe campaign to assist his family with hospital and funeral expenses surpassed its initial goal. He was also an organ donor, and his heart was donated to an 11-year-old girl.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of Richard Guerrero, a resident of Kansas City, Kansas. According to court documents, Guerrero alleged that Velez-Esparza had been chasing his vehicle and throwing water bottles at it during the altercation. Feeling threatened, Guerrero claimed he retrieved a 9mm handgun from his center console and fired a single shot at Velez-Esparza before fleeing the scene. Guerrero was initially charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action.
In a later development, Richard M. Guerrero, 22, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. This plea was part of an agreement where the initial second-degree murder charge was amended. Following his plea, prosecutors dismissed the unlawful use of a weapon charge and one count of armed criminal action. Guerrero's sentencing was scheduled for October 20, 2025.
