Rodney L. Frost, aged 29, was tragically killed on June 19, 2013, outside of his apartment on Valerie Arms Drive in Dayton, Ohio. The incident occurred just after midnight at the Hawthorne Hills North apartment complex. According to the police, Rodney was shot three times as he approached the door to his apartment. He was accompanied by his girlfriend and her 8-month-old child when the assailant, who had been hiding nearby, emerged from the darkness and began firing.
The girlfriend managed to run with the child as more shots were fired. The shooter fled the scene on foot, and authorities believe the suspect may have been lurking in the area for hours before the attack. Witnesses reported seeing a suspicious individual in dark clothing lingering near the building prior to the homicide.
Rodney Frost's death led to an investigation by the Dayton Police Department, but no immediate arrests were made. Brandon Moxley, a 26-year-old man, was later implicated in the crime and initially faced charges for aggravated murder. However, after a mistrial in September 2013, Moxley eventually pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to nine years in prison. He was also required to pay restitution to Rodney's family. The plea deal was agreed upon in consultation with Frost's family and law enforcement as the most appropriate resolution at that time.
Rodney had previously survived another shooting incident in 2006, during a confrontation that resulted in the death of another individual. Although Rodney was initially charged, those charges were later dismissed, and he was convicted of having weapons under disability due to a prior offense. This history made the investigation into his 2013 murder all the more complex, as police considered various angles during their inquiry.
