In the early hours of a Tuesday morning in Wichita, Kansas, the life of Preston Spencer, a 34-year-old Black / African American man, was tragically cut short. On September 7, 2021, Spencer, a beloved husband, father of two, and a well-known local bartender, was at the Enigma Club & Lounge in Old Town, enjoying a night out with coworkers, friends, and family.
The evening took a horrifying turn when a man who had been previously ejected from the club after a fight returned with a handgun.
The assailant, later identified as 23-year-old Keshawn Maurice Dawson, stood on the sidewalk and fired multiple rounds through the club's front door and windows. In a final act of selflessness, Spencer shielded his pregnant cousin from the gunfire. While his cousin and her unborn baby were unharmed, Spencer was struck in the torso and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The chaotic scene also left five women with injuries.
The Wichita community mourned the loss of Spencer, who was remembered as the "light of the room" and the "consummate entertainer." He was the bar manager at Twelve Restaurant & Bar and had recently launched his own bartending and catering business. In the wake of his death, local restaurants and community members organized fundraisers to support his wife and two young children.
Following the shooting, an investigation was launched to apprehend the person responsible for this senseless act of violence. Keshawn Maurice Dawson was quickly identified as the suspect. At the time of the shooting, Dawson was already a convicted felon, prohibited from owning a firearm, and had two outstanding felony arrest warrants. After fleeing the scene, he was tracked down and arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, in October 2021, with the assistance of the United States Marshal's Service. Dawson was then extradited back to Kansas to face charges. He ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless murder for the death of Preston Spencer and six counts of aggravated battery for the injuries sustained by the other victims. For his crimes, Keshawn Maurice Dawson was sentenced to nearly 36 years in prison.
