On January 1, 2023, a violent altercation unfolded at a convenience store in Independence, Missouri, claiming the life of 24-year-old Christopher “MooMoo” Dashawn Wright. The African American male had driven his black Nissan Altima to the Short Stop convenience store located along East U.S. 40 Highway early that afternoon. Surveillance footage later reviewed by investigators showed Wright arriving at the location around 1:00 p.m., shortly before another individual entered the passenger side
of his vehicle. What began as a meeting inside the parked car quickly escalated into a physical struggle between Wright and the passenger, leading to the shattering of the vehicle's front passenger window.
The conflict turned deadly when the passenger, identified by authorities as Daqunne E. Green, exited the vehicle brandishing a firearm. As Wright attempted to reverse his car out of the parking spot, Green fired multiple rounds into the vehicle. Despite sustaining a gunshot wound to his lower back, Wright managed to exit his car and stumble into the convenience store seeking help. Emergency responders arrived to find him unresponsive inside the business, and although life-saving measures were attempted, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators processing the area discovered shell casings and a significant amount of marijuana in Wright’s vehicle, while narcotics and cash were found near where he had collapsed inside the store.
Detectives used evidence from Wright's cellphone to link him to Green, revealing communications that pointed to a planned drug transaction. Green was subsequently apprehended by police on January 10, 2023, in Kansas City. During interrogation, the 24-year-old suspect admitted to arranging a meeting with Wright to purchase fentanyl. He claimed that during the transaction, Wright had pointed a gun at his head, prompting a struggle for the weapon. Green stated that after wresting control of the gun, he acted out of anger and adrenaline, shooting at Wright as the victim attempted to flee the scene.
Following his arrest, prosecutors charged Daqunne E. Green with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action. He was ordered held on a $250,000 cash-only bond as the legal process commenced. The tragedy marked a somber start to the new year for the community and Wright's grieving family, who remembered him as a former Lee's Summit High School student with a vibrant personality, known for his humor and deep love for his son and relatives.
