In the winter of 2020, a young woman's life was tragically cut short in Independence, Missouri. Oriana N-Chelle Ashhanti Starr, a 22-year-old Black female, was found deceased in an apartment on December 16th. Known to her loved ones as a firecracker with a megawatt smile, Oriana was born on January 19, 1998, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in Kansas City, graduating from Ruskin High School in 2016.
Described as an old soul, she had a deep compassion for others and was cherished as the baby of her family.
The circumstances of her death were soon revealed to be a result of gun violence. An investigation into the incident identified her boyfriend, Brandon McDaniel, as the person responsible. According to court documents, an argument between the couple escalated, leading to McDaniel fatally shooting Oriana. Following the incident, it was McDaniel's own mother who reported the shooting to the police, which led to his subsequent arrest. He was apprehended in Arkansas after fleeing the scene of the crime.
Brandon McDaniel was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. During the trial, it was revealed that McDaniel admitted to shooting Oriana and later selling the firearm used in the crime. In August 2022, a Jackson County jury found him guilty of the charges brought against him. The legal proceedings concluded in November 2022, when he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of Oriana Starr.
