KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? A man found shot to death on a city street was identified Tuesday as David Exposito, former husband of Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill.

McCaskill’s office confirmed that the slain man was the auditor’s former husband, father of her three children.

Exposito, 64, lived in Independence, Mo. He and McCaskill, a Democrat who lost to Republican Matt Blunt in the Missouri governor’s race last year, were divorced in 1995.

In August, McCaskill announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination to oppose Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., next year.

“Obviously, this is an incredibly difficult time for me and my children, as they grieve the loss of their father,” McCaskill said in a written statement. “I will be spending time with my children to help them through this terrible loss, and I know others will respect my family’s privacy at this tragic time.”

Capt. Michael Kobe of the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department said the body was identified through fingerprints and a tattoo.

The body was found shortly before 3 p.m. Monday in the northeast part of the city. Police would not discuss details, except to say the preliminary theory is that Exposito was in a car when he was shot in the upper torso, then thrown onto the street from the vehicle. He died immediately.

Police did not release information on any suspect but Kobe said they had promising leads from witnesses.

Wyandotte County Dist. Atty. Jerome Gorman said Tuesday afternoon that authorities didn’t yet know what motivated the shooting but were looking at several possible scenarios.

On Monday, police had said they were looking for someone who was driving a blue-green, older model, long vehicle with two doors, a leather top and gold rims on the wheels.

Police spokeswoman Mary Solem said developments may take time because officers also are investigating other new cases.

“We’re working two other homicides from the weekend,” Solem said. “We’re not putting any more emphasis on one because he was related to someone. Everybody is somebody’s kid or somebody’s ex-husband.”

When McCaskill was the Jackson County prosecuting attorney, Exposito was caught smoking marijuana at a Kansas City-area casino boat, while she was out of town. They were divorced the next year.

McCaskill was elected state auditor in 1998 and easily won a second term four years later.