Authorities say a 19-year-old man was armed with a firearm and did not comply with officers’ commands to drop it.
KANSAS CITY, KS — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating after a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer fatally shot a 19-year-old man early Sunday after officers responded twice to the 500 block of Ohio Avenue, first for a noise complaint and later for a report of shots fired.
The KBI identified the man as Leonel Lozoya-Esparza, 19, of Kansas City, Kansas. According to the agency’s preliminary account, officers encountered Lozoya-Esparza holding a firearm after returning to the area shortly before 1 a.m. Aug. 23. Police ordered him to drop the weapon, but the KBI said he did not comply and turned toward officers while still holding the gun. One Kansas City, Kansas, police officer then fired, striking him.
Officers immediately attempted life-saving measures, but Lozoya-Esparza died at the scene, according to the KBI. No law enforcement officers were injured. The agency cautioned that its account is preliminary and is based on evidence and early statements gathered during the investigation.
Kansas City, Kansas, police were initially dispatched to the 500 block of Ohio Avenue at about 12:27 a.m. for a noise complaint, according to the KBI. Officers were sent back to the same area at about 12:49 a.m. after authorities received a report of shots fired. The department requested KBI assistance at approximately 1:30 a.m., and KBI agents and its Crime Scene Response Team responded.
Witnesses interviewed by local news organizations described a crowded scene in the neighborhood before the shooting. Justin Reilly, who told KCTV he had been at a nearby house after attending a Kansas City Royals game, said he noticed the number of people outside growing late Saturday night. He later heard what sounded like several gunshots and saw police activity nearby.
Another neighbor, Patty Westfall, told KSHB that she heard gunfire while inside her home on Ohio Avenue. She also described numerous people and vehicles moving through the area before the shooting. Those witness accounts provide context about activity in the neighborhood but do not establish what happened during the encounter between Lozoya-Esparza and police.
The KBI is leading the independent investigation into the officer’s use of force. The agency has said its investigations of police shootings are intended to establish the events leading up to the use of force. Preliminary details can change as investigators review physical evidence, interviews and other information.
Authorities had not publicly identified the officer who fired as of the latest reports reviewed Monday. The KBI also had not released additional details about the firearm, whether shots were fired by Lozoya-Esparza during the encounter or what investigators believe prompted the earlier shots-fired call. Those issues remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Once the KBI completes its investigation, its findings are expected to be presented to the Wyandotte County District Attorney for review. No final determination about the officer’s actions has been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Author note: Last updated August 24, 2026.