BELTON, Mo. — Belton police are looking for a man in a small red vehicle following a deadly shooting Tuesday evening that police think may have happened as a result of road rage.
Police say the shooting happened in the northwest portion of Belton in the area of Prospect Avenue and 150 Highway at about 5:40 p.m. and involved people in two vehicles. Benjamin Friend, 37, was shot and taken to a hospital but didn’t survive. A friend says he was driving home from his job at A.B. May Heating and Cooling when he was killed.
The suspect vehicle is believed to be a red, newer model sports coupe. It had black rims and tinted windows and a loud exhaust. Investigators believe both vehicles were traveling west on 150 Highway prior to turning south onto Prospect Ave.
According to a GoFundMe page Friend leaves Mackenzie, his wife and three kids, including 2 daughters, ages 11 and 3-months-old, and an 8-year-old son.
“We are trying to raise money for his family to help with all of the unexpected expenses that will arise as a result of this tragedy. Also, part of these funds will be used for the medical expenses for… his daughter. We hope that collectively, we can make things just a little easier during this painful time,” the page, created by someone at Midwest Pathology Associates of Overland Park, says.
On Wednesday the Metro Squad was activated to investigate. They ask that anyone who might have seen anything suspicious on 150-Highway between 291-Highway and Prospect Avenue between 5 and 5:45 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 18 to contact them at (816) 348-4470 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.
