On the morning of April 19, 2024, the life of Cody Paul Cooper, a 22-year-old male, was tragically cut short in his hometown of Topeka, Kansas. Police were dispatched to the Crown Point Apartments in the 3700 block of S.W. Park South Court regarding a shooting. Inside one of the apartments, officers discovered Cooper, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was deceased at the scene.
To his friends and family, Cody was a man who never met a stranger and whose sense of humor and smile
could draw anyone in. Born and raised in Topeka, he was a passionate athlete from a young age. He played catcher in baseball and was a formidable presence on the football field for the Topeka Buccaneers. He continued his athletic pursuits at Mater Dei Middle School and later at Topeka West High School, from which he graduated in 2020. At the time of his death, he and his girlfriend, Jasmine Davis, were anticipating the birth of their son.
An investigation into the homicide led police to identify and arrest multiple suspects in the following weeks. On May 7, 2024, authorities charged 25-year-old Lolita Leslie Bradford with first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, and interference with law enforcement. Shortly after, on May 13, police announced charges against a second suspect, 26-year-old Kavshun Jerome Boykin. He faced counts of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The investigation continued through the summer, and in August 2024, a third suspect was taken into custody. Michael DeLance Allen, 24, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated burglary in connection with Cooper's death. As of August 2024, the criminal cases against all three individuals remain pending in court.
