On March 26, 2021, a tragic and senseless act of violence claimed the life of Merrill Rabus, a 54-year-old White male from Wichita, Kansas. The day unfolded like any other for Rabus, who was riding his bicycle near the intersection of 13th Street North and Oliver Avenue in northeast Wichita. His life, which had been marked by personal struggles with addiction and homelessness before a profound spiritual awakening, was cut short in a horrifying sequence of events.
As Rabus crossed the
street, he was intentionally struck by a Plymouth van driven by 31-year-old Charity Charmon Blackmon. The violence did not end with the collision. Blackmon then exited her vehicle, approached Rabus as he lay on the ground, and fired a single, fatal shot from a handgun. Witnesses at the scene were left stunned, with some attempting to render aid and comfort to Rabus in his final moments. Despite their efforts and the arrival of emergency services who administered CPR, his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
In the immediate aftermath, courageous bystanders who witnessed the horrific act followed Blackmon as she fled the scene, providing crucial information to law enforcement. Their quick thinking and detailed descriptions of her and her vehicle led to her swift apprehension. Approximately 15 minutes after the incident, a Wichita State University police officer located and arrested Blackmon near 14th and Poplar. Investigators recovered a handgun believed to be the murder weapon. Police confirmed that the attack was a random act of violence, as there was no known connection between Blackmon and Rabus.
Charity Charmon Blackmon was subsequently booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, along with other charges. In a later court proceeding, she pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. For her crimes, she was sentenced to more than 46 years in prison, bringing a measure of justice to the tragic and untimely death of Merrill Rabus.
