On the evening of May 9, 2022, a tragic series of events unfolded in the parking lot of a WinCo grocery store in South Salt Lake, Utah, leading to the death of 27-year-old Romeo Charles Stevens, a Black / African American male. Stevens had arranged to meet a woman named McKennalyn Elizabeth Cummins, whom he had connected with on Snapchat, for what he believed was a date.
The two entered the grocery store together, unaware that a deadly ambush was being set in motion outside.
While Stevens and Cummins were inside, two vehicles pulled into the parking lot. Several individuals exited the cars and took cover, lying in wait for Stevens to emerge. When he walked out of the WinCo, he was confronted by the assailants. Sensing the danger, Stevens attempted to flee, running through the parking lot and onto Main Street. He was pursued by two men, while a third followed in a car. An altercation ensued in the street, and multiple gunshots were fired. Romeo Charles Stevens was struck by three bullets and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
An investigation into the homicide revealed a planned robbery that had turned fatal. Police identified four main suspects: McKennalyn Elizabeth Cummins, 24; Terell Jones, 30; Stafon Dshawn Coleman, 21; and Damian Stafon Coleman Jr., 27. It was determined that Cummins had allegedly lured Stevens to the location as part of a pre-arranged plot with the other three men to rob him. Damian Coleman Jr. later admitted to his role in the planned aggravated robbery and to driving the getaway vehicle after the shooting.
In the aftermath of the incident, Damian Stafon Coleman Jr. was arrested on May 10, 2022. The other suspects remained at large for a period, with several of their family members and an associate later facing charges for obstruction of justice for allegedly helping them evade capture. Eventually, all four main suspects were apprehended and charged with murder and aggravated robbery. In a subsequent court proceeding, Damian Stafon Coleman Jr. pleaded guilty to lesser charges of manslaughter and aggravated robbery.
