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Kansas City police searching for suspect who shot zTrip driver

Posted at 4:42 PM, Dec 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-06 12:45:49-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Police continue to search for a person who shot a taxi driver multiple times Tuesday night on Benton Boulevard.

Officials with zTrip said Wednesday they might have evidence that could help investigators find the suspect.

Kansas City police officers responded to the shooting shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday in the 900 block of Benton Boulevard. A zTrip driver in her mid-50s was dropping off several passengers when she was shot multiple times, police said. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

“Detectives have been working all morning to gather information and identify witnesses to find out what led to that shooting last night,” KCPD spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said.

Police have not released information about a possible motive or any suspect information.

Taxi drivers should always be on alert when picking up people they don't know, Becchina said. 

“If a driver has someone in their car and they feel unsafe, they should pull over in a well-lit area and call 911. A gas station, a grocery store, a parking lot — somewhere that is well-lit and has a lot of people and then summon help,” he said.

Becchina said driving at night can also pose a greater danger.

“At nighttime there is less traffic, less people around, less witnesses. If something does go wrong, it is important to be in a place where it is well-lit,” he said.

One zTrip driver who did not want to be identified said that one of his friends is a driver who was robbed last year in Kansas City.

Police have asked anyone with information in the shooting to contact the TIPS hotline at 816-474-8477.