On the morning of Monday, September 8, 2025, officers in Kansas City responded to a call for a medical emergency in the 3200 block of Independence Avenue. First responders found 50-year-old Derek Harrison, a Black man, unresponsive in grass near a storage facility; he was pronounced dead at the scene just before 6:00 a.m.

Initial on-scene assessments did not determine cause of death, but an autopsy completed by the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, found wounds consistent with gunfire. The case was reclassified as a homicide and homicide detectives took over, canvassing the area for witnesses and surveillance footage.

No arrests or specific suspects have been publicly identified. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the homicide unit or submit anonymous tips; a reward of up to $25,000 has been offered. If anyone knew Derek Harrison or saw activity in the 3200 block of Independence Avenue that morning, please come forward with what you know.