On a tragic evening in Kansas City, Missouri, the life of 42-year-old Braisen Cain was brought to a violent end in her own front yard. On August 6, 2025, police were called to the 4000 block of Morrell Avenue around 7:50 p.m. for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Cain unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services declared her deceased at the scene.
Cain, a beloved mother of five sons, was also pregnant with her sixth child at the time of her death.
The investigation into her death quickly pointed to her ex-boyfriend, Arel Dawkins. According to court records and witness statements, Cain had recently ended her relationship with Dawkins, with whom she was expecting a child. The events leading to her death were horrifically captured on a neighbor's Google Nest surveillance camera. The video allegedly shows Dawkins running over Cain with his black Ford F-150 in her yard. He then reportedly exited the vehicle and shot her multiple times at close range as she lay on the ground. Witnesses stated that he even reloaded his weapon to continue firing, ultimately shooting her 21 times. Police found 21 shell casings and an empty handgun magazine at the scene.
Following the incident, Dawkins fled the scene. He later allegedly confessed to the murder in phone calls to his family members and a high school friend. His family contacted 911, reporting that he had confessed and was threatening suicide. Using cellphone data, police were able to locate Dawkins in Springfield, Missouri, where he was arrested without incident. He was subsequently charged by the Jackson County prosecutor's office with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Upon his arrest, Dawkins declined to provide a statement to detectives.
