Lee McNowelly was 20 when he was shot dead in his car in a south Kansas City industrial area on December 16, 2018. He was working an overnight security shift and was found at about 5:30 a.m. in his black Nissan in the parking lot at 8701 Elmwood Avenue, thirty minutes before his shift was due to end. The motive is unknown and police had no suspect description at the time.

A 2016 Raytown High School graduate, Lee had married his high school sweetheart Lorrie; the couple used the shared surname McNowelly. He had taken the security job to support his wife and planned to attend trade school the following year. His family described him as a loving husband, son, and brother.

No arrests have been announced and the murder remains unsolved. If anyone has information about Lee, his movements that morning, or the parking lot at Elmwood Avenue, please come forward.