On December 24, 2023, 20-year-old Nicholas David West was shot and killed in the Northeast area of Kansas City, Missouri. Police were called about 10:00 a.m. to the vicinity of 8th and Olive Streets after reports of a shooting. Responding officers found two victims: one man outside a vehicle with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds who was taken to a hospital, and West inside a parked car with fatal gunshot wounds, pronounced dead at the scene.

Family members said the two young men had been sitting in the parked vehicle when they were approached by two unidentified individuals. The encounter reportedly became a robbery and the assailants opened fire; the surviving friend managed to flee despite his injuries while West remained inside the car and was struck. West was described as intelligent and caring, working in roofing and tiling while taking college classes and hoping to attend the University of Kansas to study medicine.

Kansas City police launched a homicide investigation and asked the public for information about the two men involved and the shooting. No suspects had been publicly named and no arrests were reported. If anyone has information about this case, please contact the homicide unit or the anonymous TIPS Hotline.