On the early morning of July 24, 2023, the quiet of a Kansas City, Missouri neighborhood was broken by the sound of gunfire, leading authorities to a tragic discovery near the intersection of East 80th Street and Forest Avenue. Officers with the Kansas City Police Department responded to the scene just after 1:00 a.m., where they located a male victim lying in a grassy area adjacent to the roadway.
The individual was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, prompting an immediate medical response to the residential area.
Emergency medical personnel transported the wounded man to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. The victim was identified as 36-year-old Demetrius Alexander LaNear, known affectionately to friends and family as 'DA.' Born in Kansas City, he had spent time in Virginia Beach before returning to the area, where he was remembered for his love of the outdoors and science. He left behind a family that included his wife, parents, and five siblings.
As of the last available reports following the incident, homicide detectives had not taken any suspects into custody. Investigators continued to canvass the area and search for persons of interest, appealing to the public for information regarding the circumstances that led to the shooting. Authorities urged anyone with knowledge of the events to contact the TIPS Hotline, offering a financial reward for information that could lead to an arrest, but the case remained active with no charges filed at the time of the initial investigation.
