On a cold December evening in Kansas City, Kansas, the life of a 27-year-old Black/African American woman named Krystal R. Swygert was tragically cut short. The events of December 22, 2018, began to unfold with a heated altercation between Swygert and her ex-boyfriend, Robert Darnell Richard Jr., at a local Burger King. Witnesses saw the two arguing before the dispute spilled outside and became physical. After the fight, they both went back inside the restaurant separately.
Richard was then seen taking a pink hat from Swygert's head before they both left.
Shortly after this confrontation, gunfire erupted nearby. Having been shot at least once, Swygert managed to make her way into a Taco Bell on Rainbow Boulevard seeking help. Patrons and employees inside the restaurant attempted to provide aid and immediately called 911. When emergency services arrived, Swygert was rushed to the University of Kansas Hospital. Initial assessments suggested her injuries were not life-threatening, but she later died during surgery. Before she passed away, Krystal was able to identify the person who shot her, naming Robert Darnell Richard Jr. as her attacker.
The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department quickly launched a homicide investigation. Based on Swygert's final words, police identified Richard as the primary suspect. A search for him was initiated, and he was later apprehended by law enforcement in Wichita. The state charged Richard with intentional second-degree murder and robbery for taking Swygert's hat.
During the subsequent trial, Swygert's identification of Richard as her killer was admitted as a dying declaration, becoming a crucial piece of evidence against him. The jury also reviewed surveillance footage showing the two together just minutes before the shooting. Ultimately, Robert Darnell Richard Jr. was convicted of both second-degree murder and robbery for the death of his ex-girlfriend. His conviction was later affirmed on appeal.
