On January 10, 2024, Alyson Appling-France, a 29-year-old mother from Cleveland, Ohio, was tragically shot and killed in front of her two young daughters. The incident occurred as she returned to her apartment after shopping at a local Target. Surveillance revealed that three men—Jamar Skanes, Alontez Beasley, and Clarence Bennett—had conspired to murder her. Bennett tracked Appling-France from the store to her home, where Skanes and Beasley awaited her arrival.
As she began unloading groceries from her vehicle, Beasley approached her and shot her 17 times with an automatic firearm before both men fled the scene. Despite immediate medical attention, Appling-France was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Following a thorough investigation, Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley were arrested on January 26, 2024. They faced multiple charges, including aggravated murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office indicated that both men had conducted surveillance on Appling-France for several hours prior to the shooting. On August 27, 2024, they were found guilty of aggravated murder and other related charges. Subsequently, on October 22, 2024, they were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Clarence Bennett, the third suspect involved in the conspiracy, remains at large. He is also facing serious charges including aggravated murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities have been actively seeking assistance from the public to locate him, emphasizing that he poses a significant danger to the community. The case has drawn considerable media attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the fact that it occurred in front of Appling-France's children.
