Incident Overview
At approximately 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2026, officers with the Kansas City Police Department were dispatched to the 3900 block of Baltimore Avenue in the Westport entertainment district on a "sound of gunshots" call that was subsequently upgraded to a confirmed shooting. Officers arrived to find a man unresponsive in a parking lot behind apartment buildings within the commercial entertainment district.
The victim was identified as Jose Poole, 34, of Kansas City. According to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office and multiple news reports, Poole had stepped in to try to de-escalate an altercation in the area. Witnesses described Poole as unarmed and not aggressive at the time of the confrontation.
The suspect, Lamar Harris'El, then produced a firearm and opened fire, striking Poole. Surveillance video reportedly captured Harris'El shooting Poole in the face. After Poole fell to the ground, Harris'El walked over to him and fired another rapid burst of gunfire into him. Harris'El then attempted to flee the scene, fell, and knocked his cap off before running from the area, leaving the cap behind.
Poole sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body. He was pronounced deceased minutes after the initial dispatch call. His death was classified as Kansas City's 22nd homicide of 2026.
A Peacemaker Lost
Jose Poole, 34, was a Kansas City resident who witnesses described as an unarmed bystander attempting to de-escalate a confrontation when he was shot and killed. His effort to intervene peacefully in a volatile situation cost him his life in the early morning hours of a Saturday in one of Kansas City's busiest entertainment districts.
Charges Filed - March 2026
Lamar Harris'El was taken into custody on Monday, March 9, 2026, after being located through cell phone pinging. On March 10, the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office charged Harris'El with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle.
Harris'El is being held in the Jackson County jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond. Surveillance video from the scene was cited as key evidence in the investigation and arrest.
Location & Context
The shooting occurred in a parking lot in the 3900 block of Baltimore Avenue, located within the Westport entertainment district in Kansas City, Missouri. The specific location is described as a parking lot behind apartment buildings but within the commercial entertainment district — a concentrated area of bars, restaurants, and nightlife venues that is one of Kansas City's busiest nightlife destinations.
The incident took place at approximately 2:10 a.m. on a Saturday morning, during peak bar closing hours in the entertainment district. Westport businesses operate under security protocols that include walk-through metal detectors and screening checkpoints between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. However, the shooting occurred in a parking lot area, raising questions about whether the security perimeter extended beyond the pedestrian zones.
Following the shooting, Westport business owners publicly addressed the incident, with KSHB reporting under the headline "I refuse to have fear" that owners were processing the shooting while city leaders offered a public safety plan in direct response.
Property Details
Property Type: Parking lot within Westport entertainment district, behind apartment buildings along Baltimore Avenue
Timing: The incident occurred at approximately 2:10 a.m. on a Saturday during peak bar closing hours in the entertainment district.
Security Measures: Westport businesses operate walk-through metal detectors and screening checkpoints between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. on weekends, but the shooting occurred in a parking lot outside the pedestrian security perimeter.
Documented Pattern of Westport Violence
October 2025: Jorden Wynn, 23, was shot and killed in a Westport restaurant parking lot near Westport Road and Mill Street at approximately 2:50 a.m.
May 2025: Levon J. Quinn, 30, was fatally shot outside a smoke shop at 40th Street and Broadway Boulevard near Westport during an argument.
February 2026: A shooting near Westport Road and Central Street prompted police to release surveillance images of persons of interest.
October 2024: A mass shooting at a Westport business injured 5 people. The unlicensed business was subsequently shut down by the city.
July 2022: A Kansas City man was charged with multiple felonies in connection with a Westport shooting that killed Cardell Crawford and injured others.
Incident Timeline
Altercation Begins: An altercation occurs in the parking lot area of the 3900 block of Baltimore Avenue in Westport during late-night hours.
Victim Intervenes: Jose Poole, described as unarmed and not aggressive, steps in to attempt to de-escalate the confrontation.
~2:10 AM - Shooting: Harris'El produces a firearm and shoots Poole in the face. After Poole falls, Harris'El fires another rapid burst of gunfire into the victim.
Suspect Flees: Harris'El attempts to flee, falls, loses his cap, then runs from the scene. Surveillance cameras capture the incident.
March 9 - Arrest: Harris'El is located through cell phone pinging and taken into custody.
March 10 - Charges: Jackson County Prosecutor files charges including second-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and tampering with a motor vehicle.
Entertainment District & Parking Lot Security Standards
Entertainment districts with concentrated nightlife venues and adjacent parking areas face unique security challenges, particularly during late-night hours when alcohol consumption and high foot traffic increase the risk of violent incidents. Industry security experts and organizations such as ASIS International and the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) have identified several measures commonly recommended for these environments:
Parking Lot Lighting
Adequate lighting throughout parking areas adjacent to entertainment venues. Well-lit parking lots deter criminal activity, improve surveillance camera effectiveness, and help patrons and security identify potential threats.
Real-Time Surveillance Monitoring
Security cameras positioned to cover parking lots, transition zones, and common areas with active real-time monitoring — not just passive recording reviewed after incidents. Live monitoring allows for immediate intervention when threats are identified.
Security Patrol of Parking Areas
Trained security personnel conducting regular patrols of parking lots and transition zones between secured entertainment areas and adjacent parking, particularly during peak late-night hours when patrons are arriving and departing.
Weapons Screening Perimeter
Security screening perimeters that extend to cover parking areas and transition zones — not just pedestrian zones and venue entrances. ASIS International guidelines recommend that security perimeters for nightlife districts extend to parking areas controlled by or associated with the entertainment zone.
Coordinated District Security
A coordinated, district-wide security plan addressing not just individual venues but the common areas, parking lots, and transition zones between them. The IAVM recommends coordinated security plans that cover the gaps between secured entertainment areas and adjacent parking.
Emergency Response Coordination
Established protocols for rapid emergency response, including communication systems between security personnel, venue staff, and law enforcement. In districts with heavy police deployment, coordination between private security and police patrols is critical for effective incident response.
Potential Negligent Security Considerations
Under Missouri law, property owners and businesses have a duty to maintain reasonably safe premises. This duty may extend to implementing security measures to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal acts, particularly in entertainment districts where alcohol consumption, late-night operations, and a documented history of violent incidents increase the risk of harm.
Several factors may warrant examination regarding this incident:
1 Screening Perimeter Gaps
The Westport entertainment district had implemented walk-through metal detectors and screening checkpoints operational between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. on weekends. The suspect was armed with a firearm in the parking lot during this operational window, raising questions about whether the screening perimeter adequately covered the parking areas adjacent to the entertainment district or only the pedestrian zones along Westport Road.
2 Parking Lot Security Presence
Whether security guards, patrol officers, or other trained personnel were present in or patrolling the parking lot where the shooting occurred at approximately 2 a.m. on a Saturday. Despite more than a dozen patrol units being deployed to the Westport district on weekend nights, the shooting occurred, a victim was killed, and the suspect was able to flee the scene on foot.
3 Foreseeability Based on Prior Incidents
The Westport entertainment district has a well-documented history of shootings, including at least two other fatal parking lot shootings in the preceding 18 months: the October 2025 killing of Jorden Wynn in a Westport restaurant parking lot and the May 2025 fatal shooting of Levon J. Quinn near Westport. Under Missouri premises liability law, this pattern of prior similar incidents establishes a strong argument that violent crime in Westport parking areas was foreseeable.
4 Surveillance Monitoring
Surveillance cameras in the parking lot captured footage of the shooting that was later used in the investigation and arrest. Whether these cameras were monitored in real-time — which could have prompted an immediate security or law enforcement response to the altercation before it escalated to gunfire — or were only reviewed after the incident is a relevant consideration.
5 District-Wide Security Coordination
The Westport entertainment district is managed through a combination of the Westport Regional Business League and individual property owners. Whether the coordinated security plan — including privatized sidewalks, pedestrian zones, metal detectors, and police patrols — adequately addressed the transition zones between secured entertainment areas and adjacent parking lots where multiple prior shootings had occurred.
Missouri Premises Liability & Entertainment District Security
Under Missouri premises liability law, property owners may be held liable for negligent security if they fail to implement reasonable measures to protect visitors from foreseeable criminal acts on their premises. The foreseeability of criminal violence is evaluated based on prior similar incidents at the property or in the immediate area. The multiple documented shootings in Westport — including fatal parking lot shootings in the months preceding this incident — establish a pattern that may make the March 2026 shooting foreseeable as a matter of law. Additionally, Missouri's dram shop law (RSMo § 537.053) may be relevant to establishments in the district that served alcohol to individuals involved in the altercation.
If you or a loved one was affected by a similar incident, the experienced negligent security attorneys featured on this site offer free, confidential consultations to help you understand your legal options.