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Several people detained in connection with Independence homicide

25th and sterling independence homicide
Posted at 3:59 AM, Feb 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-28 14:54:04-05

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Independence police are investigating the city's latest homicide.

A police spokesperson said just before 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, dispatchers sent officers to the 2500 block of South Sterling Avenue to investigate reports of an aggravated assault and shooting.

The spokesperson said when officers arrived, they found one person dead inside the home.

Police later identified the victim as 36-year-old Michael E. Lopez of Independence.

Detectives spoke with several people whom officers detained during the investigation.

"The situation is contained, but there may be someone else who left the scene because there were numerous people here when it occurred. That's our information that we're getting right now," said Officer John Syme, the department's spokesperson.

Police said they have information that people involved in the incident may still be in the area.

Officers, detectives and crime scene units remained active on the scene early Thursday morning. They re-opened South Sterling Avenue at about 6 a.m.