Santana Buchanon, a male age 18 from Dayton, was found dead in the early morning hours of July 28, 2025, inside a car parked along Gerlaugh Avenue near Bierce Avenue. According to 911 calls released afterward, witnesses reported a vehicle sitting oddly in the roadway with both front doors open and windows “busted out,” prompting police to respond at around 1:42 a.m. He was discovered unresponsive in the car and pronounced dead at the scene.
The Montgomery County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Santana Buchanon, and the Dayton Police Department's Homicide Unit opened an investigation into his death. Early reports noted the suspicious condition of the vehicle and the rapid arrival of officers and the coroner as the scene was secured. Public records and memorial listings later confirmed the date and location of the killing.
As of the most recent local coverage following the release of the 911 audio, investigators had not announced any arrests, and no suspect information had been made public. The case remained active as detectives worked to piece together what led to the deadly encounter on Gerlaugh Avenue. In the days that followed, family and friends shared tributes and launched a memorial fundraiser in his name.
