KANSAS CITY, MO — Kansas City police are investigating a deadly overnight shooting that left one man dead and two others wounded in the area of 80th and Michigan. Officers were called out late Tuesday night after reports of gunfire, then found more evidence of shots being fired as they moved into the neighborhood.

Police said the shooting may have started after an argument, though investigators are still working to sort out what happened. The department has not released a motive beyond that preliminary lead. Detectives have also been speaking with multiple people of interest as the investigation continues.

Officers responded after several reports of gunfire

The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said the first call came in around 11 p.m. from the area of 81st Street and Brooklyn Avenue, where someone reported hearing shots. While officers were traveling to the scene, dispatchers received several more calls describing additional gunfire nearby.

When officers arrived, they said they heard multiple shots coming from the area of East 80th and Michigan. They also saw several people running away from the location, which suggested the scene was still active when police reached the area.

The two blocks named in the calls were close enough to indicate a fast-moving incident, and police focused their response around East 80th and Michigan after hearing the gunfire themselves. That helped officers quickly locate victims and begin a broader search for anyone connected to the shooting.

Larry Baker was found with gunshot wounds and later died

Police said they found an adult man who had been shot. He was later identified as 44-year-old Larry Baker. Officers arranged for him to be taken to a hospital, but he died after arriving there.

Authorities have not released additional details about Baker beyond his age and identity. They have also not said who fired the shots or how many rounds were discharged during the encounter.

The department described the case as a homicide because Baker died from his injuries. That designation means detectives are treating the shooting as a killing investigation while they work to determine the sequence of events and the people involved.

Two other men reached hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries

Police said two additional adult men were also hurt in the shooting. Unlike Baker, both of those men were taken to a hospital by private vehicle instead of an ambulance.

Investigators said their injuries were not considered life-threatening. That information suggests the violence did not end with one victim, but police have not said whether all three men were shot at the same time or in the same exact spot.

At this stage, authorities have not identified the two wounded men. They also have not said whether the victims knew each other or whether all three were directly involved in the confrontation that may have led to the gunfire.

Detectives are looking at an argument as a possible trigger

Early information gathered by police points to a possible argument before the shooting. That is the only explanation investigators have publicly described so far, and they have not said what the dispute was about or who may have started it.

Detectives have made contact with multiple people of interest for further questioning. Police did not say whether anyone was detained or arrested, and they have not announced charges in connection with the case.

Because the investigation remains active, officers are still trying to determine the roles of everyone present. Witness statements, physical evidence and the condition of the scene will likely play a major role in deciding whether the incident began as a dispute and escalated into gunfire.

Police are asking for tips as the homicide investigation continues

The Kansas City police department is asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators directly. For people who prefer to stay anonymous, Crime Stoppers offers several ways to submit a tip, including by phone, online or through its mobile app.

The Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline can be reached at 816-474-TIPS, which is 8477. Tips can also be submitted through P3Tips.com, and some information may qualify for a cash reward depending on the details provided.

KSHB 41 says annual homicide information for the Kansas City area is available through its Homicide Tracker, which has been operating since 2015. The station also directs readers to its mug shot policy as the investigation unfolds.

What investigators have and have not confirmed so far

So far, police have confirmed a deadly shooting, the location of the response and the fact that three adults were struck by gunfire. They have also identified the person who died as Larry Baker, 44, and said the other two victims suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.

What remains unclear is what led to the violence, who fired the shots and whether the people police have spoken with will face any charges. For now, detectives are continuing to piece together the timeline from the first 911 calls through the moment officers reached the area.

As that work continues, the case remains one of several homicide investigations in the city this year. Police have not said when they expect to release additional updates.