Dante' Lamar Price, a 25-year-old African American male from Trotwood, Ohio, tragically died on March 1, 2012, in Dayton, OH. Price was fatally shot by two private security guards, Justin Wissinger and Christopher Tarbert, who were employed by Ranger Security. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Summit Square Apartments, where Price had been ordered off the property.
The security guards, who were patrolling the area, pulled Price from his vehicle at gunpoint and attempted to
detain him. When Price tried to drive away, the guards fired at least 17 shots into his car, striking him three times. The guards claimed they believed Price was trying to run them over, but prosecutors argued that they had no legal authority to detain Price or use deadly force.
Wissinger and Tarbert were initially indicted on murder charges, but they eventually pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and abduction. In November 2014, they were sentenced to four years in prison each. Price's family and community members expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, believing it was too lenient given the circumstances.
The case drew significant attention and led to rallies and vigils seeking justice for Price. Despite the tragic outcome, the shooting was not classified as a hate crime, as there was no credible evidence to suggest it was racially motivated.
Price's death left a lasting impact on his family and the community, who continue to remember him for his vibrant personality and the joy he brought to those around him.
