At about 8:38 p.m. Monday, April 12, officers were called to the 4300 block of Forest to investigate several calls about shots being fired. As the officers approached the area, they saw several muzzle flashes from gunfire near two houses on the east side of Forest. The officers found a white car with a man inside. He had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been identified as 41-year-old Richard Franks Jr. of Kansas City, Mo. Two other men were inside the car with Franks, and police also found several guns in the vehicle.
While the officers were investigating the scene, residents of a third house on the west side of the street became confrontational with the officers. Believing the area was potentially unsafe for investigators to conduct an appropriate investigation, tactical officers were called in to remove the occupants of the three homes so investigators could process the homicide scene. Several people were taken into custody, and detectives were able to move in and process the scene at around midnight.
Police questioned the men in the car with Franks and are working to determine how or if those in the three houses might be involved. There are no suspects in custody, and anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
