In the early morning hours of March 27, 2022, the life of Rodney Neil Winston Jr., a 26-year-old Black / African American male from Shawnee, Kansas, was tragically cut short. Responding to a disturbance call around 5 a.m., officers with the Merriam Police Department arrived at a duplex near West 52nd Street and Knox Avenue in Merriam, Kansas. Inside the residence, they discovered Winston, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. While he was known to the people living in the duplex, he did not reside there himself.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 20, 1995, to Rodney and Nadia Winston, he was affectionately known as "Junior". He attended St. Agnes Elementary School and later graduated from Bishop Miege High School. For over two years, he worked for the Zipco Company and also worked alongside his father in their family business, Winston Quality Cleaning Service. A devoted father, he cherished the time he spent with his three children: a son named Mateo and two daughters, Amelia and Arianna. He was also known for his love of basketball.
The Merriam Police Department promptly launched a homicide investigation into Rodney Winston Jr.'s death. Authorities have stated that they have identified all the individuals involved in the incident. However, to date, no arrests have been announced in connection with his death, and the case officially remains an open investigation. The police are encouraging anyone with information to come forward and contact the Merriam Police Department or the TIPS Hotline to assist in bringing closure to this case.
