In the early hours of April 28, 2019, a day that should have been filled with celebration, the life of Dwane Simmons, a 23-year-old Black male, was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence in Topeka, Kansas. A junior and a promising cornerback for the Washburn University football team, Simmons was known for his infectious smile and his deep love for the game and his teammates.
The shooting occurred just hours after his close friend and teammate, Corey Ballentine, was drafted into the NFL by the New York Giants.
The festive atmosphere of an off-campus party turned to horror at approximately 12:45 a.m. near the university. Simmons, Ballentine, and other teammates were outside the gathering when a car approached. Witnesses reported that the occupants of the vehicle engaged the group in a brief conversation, asking if they had any marijuana. After the players indicated they did not, the car began to drive away before stopping. Multiple individuals then exited the vehicle and opened fire on the group. In the hail of bullets, Dwane Simmons was fatally wounded, and Corey Ballentine sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The sudden violence shattered the lives of many, leaving Simmons's family and the Washburn community in profound grief.
The investigation into the homicide led Topeka police to 18-year-old Francisco Alejandro Mendez. In July 2019, Mendez was arrested and charged with first-degree murder for the death of Dwane Simmons, attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of Corey Ballentine, and several other counts of attempted murder and aggravated battery. The motive for the shooting, as presented by the prosecution, was that Mendez and the other individuals in the car felt disrespected by the football players' response to their inquiry.
After a trial that brought to light the details of that tragic night, a jury found Francisco "Franky" Mendez guilty of first-degree murder in March 2022. He was also convicted on four counts of attempted murder for firing at Ballentine and three other teammates. The court proceedings revealed that the vehicle used in the shooting had been stolen in a carjacking prior to the incident. While Mendez was convicted, the other occupants of the car who participated in the shooting have not been publicly identified or charged. In May 2022, Francisco Alejandro Mendez was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Dwane Simmons, bringing a measure of closure to a case that left a lasting scar on a family and a university community.
