In a tragic turn of events on the evening of April 3, 2016, Jake Brantner, a 39-year-old male, was fatally shot in a parking lot in eastern Kansas City, Missouri. The incident unfolded around 8:30 p.m. in a busy shopping center near Kauffman Stadium, as baseball fans were heading to a Kansas City Royals game. Brantner had arranged to meet an individual to sell a handgun, a transaction that had been set up online.
Tragically, his 10-year-old daughter was in his car and witnessed the entire event.
The planned sale quickly devolved into a violent confrontation. According to prosecutors, the prospective buyer attempted to steal the handgun from Brantner. A struggle ensued, during which both men drew firearms and exchanged shots. Brantner was struck by the gunfire and, despite being armed and possibly firing back, succumbed to his injuries. The shooter was also wounded but fled the scene.
The investigation into Jake Brantner's death led to the arrest of Fazon K. Swinton. In June 2017, a Jackson County jury convicted the 19-year-old Swinton of second-degree murder, attempted robbery, armed criminal action, and leaving the scene of a crime. The jury recommended a sentence of 32 years in prison: 20 years for the murder charge, seven for the attempted robbery, four for armed criminal action, and one year for leaving the scene.
In addition to Swinton, a woman named Rahnesha A. Carson, then 22, was also implicated in the crime. She faced charges of being an accessory to robbery, hindering the prosecution of a felony, leaving the scene of a shooting, and tampering with evidence for her alleged role in assisting Swinton.
