On a summer afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri, a dispute over stolen marijuana escalated into a tragic act of violence that claimed the life of 36-year-old Leon Robinson Jr. The incident unfolded on July 20, 2019, near Independence Avenue, where an argument led to a triple shooting. When police responded to the scene, they discovered Robinson deceased in the street.
Two other individuals who had been shot were found at a nearby store and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to 18-year-old Wade Bentley as the primary suspect. According to court records and witness statements, Bentley had accused one of the victims of stealing marijuana from him. Witnesses described Bentley as being angry and armed with a handgun moments before the shooting began. It was reported that Robinson had attempted to de-escalate the situation, telling Bentley to calm down just before the shots were fired.
In the weeks following the deadly encounter, Wade Bentley was apprehended by law enforcement. He was subsequently charged with a litany of felonies, including second-degree murder for the death of Leon Robinson Jr. The charges against him also included multiple counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. At the time of his arrest, Bentley was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and a handgun. Prosecutors requested a high cash bond, noting that he was a person of interest in other violent incidents in the area.
