On a bright Wednesday evening, May 3, 2023, six-year-old SirAntonio Brown, a Black/African American male, was playing in his front yard in Kansas City, Kansas, just as he often did after kindergarten. The young boy, known for his love of karate and bikes, was enjoying the day with his family on Greeley Avenue when the sound of gunfire shattered the peace around 6 p.m.
Witnesses reported seeing three masked individuals exit a car down the block before multiple shots were fired.
In the chaotic moments that followed, SirAntonio was found lying wounded in the yard. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries. The energetic and witty kindergartener from West Park Elementary School, whom his teacher described as a jokester with many friends, was gone. His family remembered him as a loving protector who would always ask his loved ones if they were okay. The senseless act left his family and community heartbroken, grappling with the loss of a child who loved tacos and always looked out for his relatives.
The investigation that followed revealed a hail of over 30 shell casings at the scene, indicating the intensity of the attack. Police determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence and believed the gunmen were targeting a relative of SirAntonio. The suspect vehicle, a maroon Subaru Legacy with a missing front bumper, was located by detectives on the Missouri side of the state line the following day.
Authorities eventually made arrests in the case, tracking two suspects to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Lakevis Sloan, 20, and a 17-year-old male were taken into custody after getting off a Greyhound bus. Both were charged with second-degree murder. Sloan later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and child endangerment. An 18-year-old woman, Cassandra Sledge, was also charged with obstructing prosecution for allegedly providing false information to investigators. A third suspect in the shooting remained at large.
