On the evening of October 15, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada, a 22-year-old Black / African American woman named Kaji Goode was fatally shot. The tragic event unfolded near Salerness Street and Shinnecock Hills Avenue. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Goode in the driver's seat of her car with multiple gunshot wounds. She was rushed to University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Her live-in boyfriend, 27-year-old Ivan Cotton, was found at the scene with blood
on his hands. Cotton, an active-duty airman stationed at Creech Air Force Base, made conflicting statements to the police. He initially called 911 to report that Goode had been shot. In a subsequent call with the 911 operator, he claimed that she had shot herself but that it was his fault. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, he reportedly told officers, "You need to put me in handcuffs" and later, "It's all over if she's dead; just take me to jail." A handgun was found between the seats of the vehicle.
Further investigation into their relationship revealed a history of turmoil. Goode's family described Cotton as being "overly controlling" and stated that the couple argued frequently. In the two days preceding the shooting, Goode had been staying at her mother's home, which had reportedly angered Cotton. Her family had been so concerned about the nature of their relationship that they had mentally prepared themselves for a tragic outcome. Cotton was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on a murder charge.
