In the early hours of January 10, 2022, the life of 42-year-old Hispanic male Roberto Antonio Alaniz was tragically cut short in what would become the first homicide of the year for Kansas City, Kansas. Police responded to a call about a shooting at approximately 2:40 a.m. in a neighborhood on South 37th Street, just south of Shawnee Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered Alaniz inside a residence, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Known to his loved ones as "Scrob," Roberto was remembered as a selfless and protective older brother with an unmatched sense of hospitality, loyalty, and humor. He was a devoted fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, often watching games on multiple televisions at once. Born just two days before Halloween, he had a lifelong passion for horror movies and Halloween-themed parties. For over a decade, Alaniz worked at Carter-Waters Construction Materials before a hip injury forced him to stop working. He then became a dedicated caregiver for his mother, who was in remission from Stage 3 gastric cancer, ensuring she had meals planned after her treatments.
The investigation into his death continued for weeks as his family grieved and awaited answers. In early March 2022, authorities made an arrest in connection with the fatal shooting.
A 27-year-old man from Leavenworth, Daniel Garrett VanBebber, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Roberto Alaniz. He was taken into custody and held at the Wyandotte County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond. The arrest brought a measure of progress for a family still reeling from the sudden and violent loss of a man described as the missing puzzle piece in their lives.
