Dante Evans Brown, a 13-year-old African American boy from Cincinnati, OH, tragically lost his life on June 8, 1980. Dante and his 14-year-old cousin, Darrell Lane, were walking to a store to buy candy when they were shot by a sniper. The incident occurred on Reading Road, and Dante died at the scene, while Darrell was critically injured but survived.
The case remained unsolved for 17 years until 1997, when racist serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin confessed to the murders.
Franklin, who had been on death row in Missouri for other heinous crimes, admitted to shooting the boys from atop a train trestle. He claimed he did not realize they were children in the darkness, but showed no remorse for his actions.
Franklin's confession led to his trial in Cincinnati, where he was convicted of the murders. The trial revealed Franklin's extensive criminal history, including multiple murders, bank robberies, and firebombing a synagogue. He was executed by lethal injection in Missouri in 2013.
The tragic deaths of Dante Evans Brown and Darrell Lane left a lasting impact on their families and the Cincinnati community. The case highlighted the devastating consequences of racial hatred and the importance of justice for victims and their loved ones.
