KANSAS CITY, MO — Kansas City police are asking the public for help locating a vehicle of interest tied to a homicide that left 28-year-old Rhegan Spiegel dead Sunday in the 1200 block of East 42nd Street. Spiegel, a former UMKC volleyball player, was shot and killed, according to Kansas City Missouri Police Department Officer Alayna Gonzalez.
Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect, but they say the car may be connected to the fatal shooting. Police are releasing details about the vehicle in hopes that someone recognizes it and shares information that could help the homicide unit.
Police describe a gray 2008 Nissan Altima with distinctive features
The vehicle Kansas City police want to find is a gray 2008 two-door Nissan Altima. Officers said it has a temporary license plate with the number 008RGK6.
Police also described several visible features that could help people identify it: black wheels, a black rear bumper and a loud exhaust. Those details may be useful if the car was seen in the area before or after the shooting, or if it was noticed elsewhere in the city.
At this point, police have not released additional information about the driver or how the vehicle may fit into the case. The department’s request is focused on gathering leads from the public while investigators continue their work.
Rhegan Spiegel remembered as former UMKC volleyball player
Spiegel’s death has drawn attention not only because it was a homicide, but also because she was a former athlete at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Police identified her as the shooting victim while confirming that she was 28 years old.
The case has added a personal and community dimension to the investigation. UMKC and the local Kansas City area are now linked to the incident through Spiegel’s connection to the university volleyball program.
Authorities have not shared further details about her background or about what led up to the shooting. For now, the focus remains on the homicide investigation and the search for the suspected vehicle.
The shooting happened in a Kansas City neighborhood Sunday
Police said the homicide took place in the 1200 block of East 42nd Street on Sunday. That location is now central to the investigation as detectives piece together what happened before and after the shooting.
No additional public details were provided about the circumstances at the scene, including whether witnesses were present or whether the car was seen there directly. Kansas City police are treating the vehicle as a lead that could help reconstruct the events surrounding Spiegel’s death.
People who were in the area around the time of the shooting may now have information that could be important to investigators, especially if they noticed a gray Nissan Altima matching the description.
Homicide unit and TIPS hotline are taking tips from the public
Kansas City police said anyone with information about the vehicle should contact the KCPD Homicide Unit at 816-234-5043. Tips can also be shared through the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
Investigators are relying on the public to help narrow down the car’s location and any potential movements connected to the case. Even small details, such as where the Altima was parked or seen driving, could help detectives build a timeline.
The department has not said whether it has recovered video, identified a route, or found any physical evidence tied to the car. For now, the appeal is a straightforward request for information from anyone who may know something about the vehicle.
What investigators have said so far about the case
So far, police have confirmed three key facts: the death is being investigated as a homicide, Spiegel was the victim, and the gray Nissan Altima is a vehicle of interest. Those details frame the early stage of the investigation as detectives work to establish a clearer sequence of events.
The department has not announced an arrest or said whether the vehicle belongs to a suspect, witness or another person connected to the case. In a homicide investigation, a vehicle of interest can become a major lead when it helps connect a person to a scene, a timing window or a possible getaway route.
For Kansas City residents, the request signals that investigators are still actively gathering information and trying to build the case from the ground up. Police have asked anyone with knowledge of the Altima to come forward as the inquiry continues.
