On the cold Christmas morning of December 25, 2017, in Leavenworth, Kansas, 33-year-old Shavar A. Walker, a Black/African American male, was fatally shot. The incident that claimed his life unfolded outside an apartment complex in the early hours of the holiday.
Initial investigations pointed to a drug deal gone wrong as the motive behind the shooting. According to prosecutors, Walker was killed during a transaction involving cocaine. This led to the arrest of Ramaun Johnson, aged 32 at the time, who was subsequently charged with felony murder in connection with Walker's death. While Johnson was implicated in the drug deal that allegedly led to the homicide, prosecutors did not specifically accuse him of being the one to fire the weapon.
The legal proceedings against Johnson have been marked by delays. A trial scheduled for January 2020 was postponed after new evidence emerged. This new evidence included the identification of a possible co-defendant, an individual who has not been publicly named or formally charged in the case. The introduction of a potential second suspect prompted Johnson's defense attorney to request more time to adjust their legal strategy. The investigation into Shavar Walker's death has remained ongoing as law enforcement continues to seek additional suspects.
A narrative shared by an individual close to Walker's family offers a slightly different perspective on the events of that Christmas morning. This account suggests that Walker and his wife were at a local casino on Christmas Eve when he received a call from a longtime friend asking for a ride from Leavenworth. Upon their arrival at the apartment complex, two men reportedly entered the back of their vehicle. An argument is said to have ensued, which escalated to the fatal shooting of Walker. This version of the story raises the possibility of a planned robbery. The family has voiced frustration over the pace of the investigation and what they perceive as a lack of media attention on the case.
