Adrian Velez-Esparza was 20 when a road rage dispute in Kansas City, Missouri, ended in his death. On June 29, 2024, at about 7:30 p.m., he was involved in an altercation with another driver in the 700 block of Southwest Boulevard. During the confrontation, Velez-Esparza was fatally shot while inside his vehicle; his car then rolled into the outdoor seating area of the La Bodega restaurant. Emergency crews took him to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the back of his head, and he died on July 1, 2024.

Friends and family described him as loyal and funny, with interests in soccer, sneakers, and animals. A fundraiser for hospital and funeral expenses exceeded its goal, and Velez-Esparza’s heart was donated to an 11-year-old girl.

Authorities arrested Richard Guerrero of Kansas City, Kansas. Court filings say Guerrero told investigators Velez-Esparza had been chasing his vehicle and throwing water bottles, and that Guerrero retrieved a 9mm from his center console and fired one shot before fleeing. The case proceeded through plea negotiations and changes in charges. Does anyone have information about the June 29 encounter or what led up to it?