Kansas City police on Friday identified a man fatally shot Thursday in a gunbattle outside a YMCA as Carl W. Preston, 23.
He was one of two men taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds following the 4:15 p.m. incident in the parking lot of the Red Bridge YMCA, 11300 Holmes Road.
Police said gunfire broke out between the occupants of two vehicles. The occupants had apparently met in the parking lot for a particular reason, police said. Preston had been in one vehicle, and the wounded victim had been in the other vehicle. Investigators were trying to determine who else may have been in the vehicles.
The parking lot was filled with witnesses, including children.
“We’re lucky no one innocent got hit,” said Homicide Sgt. Keith Kirchhoff. “There were kids everywhere. It’s a YMCA.”
Police believe Preston lived in Kansas City.
Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
| The Star
