On the early morning of Sunday, October 17, 2010, 31-year-old Arthur L. Dawkins Jr., an African American man from Kansas City, Missouri, was involved in a fatal altercation at a local gas station. The incident occurred around 2:58 a.m. at the Shell station located at the intersection of 38th Street and Broadway Boulevard. Dawkins had just pulled his vehicle into the parking lot when he apparently struck another car that was parked at one of the gas pumps.
The minor collision immediately escalated into a confrontation between Dawkins and the occupants of the struck vehicle. According to police reports, an argument ensued in the parking lot. During the dispute, a suspect from the other vehicle produced a firearm and shot Dawkins. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and found Dawkins suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
Witnesses at the scene provided investigators with a description of the suspects and their vehicle. The shooter’s car was described as a royal blue Chevy Monte Carlo, possibly a model from the 1990s, often referred to as 'old school.' The vehicle was reportedly occupied by two Black males. Following the shooting, the suspects fled the scene in the Monte Carlo. Despite the collection of evidence and witness accounts, initial reports indicated that no suspects were immediately taken into custody, and police urged the public to come forward with any information regarding the distinctive vehicle or the individuals involved.
