In the late evening hours of September 4, 2020, a burst of violence shattered the quiet of a Kansas City, Kansas neighborhood, leaving two men dead, one of whom was 28-year-old Hispanic male, Jose Flores-Portillo. The tragic events unfolded shortly before 10 p.m. in an alley situated in the 1800 block of North 31st Street. When police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a grim tableau. Two men had been shot.
One of the victims, 56-year-old Raymond McElroy, was found deceased in the alley.
Jose Flores-Portillo was discovered nearby, critically injured from the gunfire. He was rushed to a local hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he was pronounced dead a short time later. The sudden and violent loss of two lives sent ripples of shock and grief through the community.
The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into the double shooting. Detectives began the arduous process of canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and searching for any evidence that might lead them to the person or persons responsible for this senseless act. In the initial stages of the investigation, details about potential suspects were not readily available to the public.
As the investigation continued, authorities urged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to come forward. They specifically requested that individuals contact the TIPS Hotline, a resource that allows people to provide information anonymously. Despite these public appeals for assistance, the case grew cold. No arrests were ever publicly announced, and the identity of any suspect or suspects in the murders of Jose Flores-Portillo and Raymond McElroy has remained elusive. The passage of time has not brought answers or justice for the families of the two men whose lives were cut short on that September night.
