Detectives say witnesses reported an argument before shots rang out near 74th and Chestnut.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two men were found shot to death in the middle of Chestnut Avenue near East 74th Street around 9:15 a.m. Friday, according to police. The call initially came in as a disturbance and was reclassified as a shooting as patrol units approached.
Police later identified the victims as Damon L. Gully Jr., 17, and Rickey T. Young, 24. Investigators said the men were pronounced dead at the scene despite medical efforts. Officers at a nearby patrol station reported hearing gunfire moments before the first 911 updates, prompting a rapid response. The case drew homicide detectives, crime scene specialists and neighborhood officers who cordoned off several blocks and shut 75th Street for much of the late morning while evidence was collected.
Sergeant Phil DiMartino said preliminary interviews indicate a dispute over personal property preceded the violence. He called the killings “senseless” and said detectives are gathering footage from homes and businesses along the corridor. Police said multiple witnesses remained to speak with officers. One person was detained for questioning near 75th and Prospect; investigators have not said if that person will face charges. The department has not disclosed how many weapons were recovered or who first opened fire, citing the active investigation.
The double homicide adds to a year of high violence across Kansas City, where more than 130 people have been killed in 2025. The stretch around 74th and Chestnut is a residential pocket just east of U.S. 71, bordered by small churches and corner stores. Residents said they were startled by a quick burst of shots followed by sirens. The area has seen sporadic gunfire calls this year, according to police summaries, though most do not lead to fatalities.
From midmorning into early afternoon, detectives photographed the scene and placed numbered markers along the roadway. “It shook the whole block,” said Anthony Ruiz, who lives nearby and watched from his porch as officers worked. Another neighbor, Denise Carter, said several houses on the street have doorbell cameras that may have captured the argument and gunfire. Officers went door to door seeking additional video and any shell casings that may have landed in yards or driveways.
As of Sunday, police had not announced arrests or filed charges. Detectives plan to review new footage and witness statements this week and submit findings to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for potential charges. Autopsies will be conducted by the county medical examiner to confirm the causes of death and document wound paths as part of the case file.
Author note: Last updated December 28, 2025.