Missing 19-year-old identified as man found shot to death in car off I-435

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) – The Independence Police Department has confirmed that a 19-year-old man reported missing on Saturday is the same man whose body was found on Sunday.

Around 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, November 24 this year Kansas City, Missouri Police Department was dispatched to the area of I-435 and Truman Road. The callers claimed that there was an unconscious person in their car.

Emergency crews found the car on the southbound off-ramp of the interstate. Inside was a man with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Earlier that day Independence Police Department issued a missing person alert for 19-year-old Preston Bell.

Bell was last seen around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, when he was forced into a car outside a home. Later, the family was unable to contact him.

When Independence officers arrived on the scene at I-435 and Truman Road on Sunday, they were able to confirm that the deceased was Bell.

IPD is investigating Bell’s death as a homicide. There is no suspect information at this time and anyone with information in this case is asked to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Editor’s note: This is breaking news, more information will be posted as it becomes available.

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