On a cold January afternoon in Florence, Kentucky, the life of 22-year-old Daniel L. Darden, a Black male, was tragically cut short. On January 15, 2021, at approximately 2:51 p.m., police responded to reports of gunfire at the Walnut Creek Apartments. There, in the parking lot, they found Darden suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to St.
Elizabeth Hospital in Florence, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
The investigation quickly led authorities to 18-year-old Robert A. Pence of Taylor Mill, Kentucky. A warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of murder and three counts of wanton endangerment. Just four days after the shooting, Pence was apprehended in St. Petersburg, Florida, and awaited extradition back to Kentucky to face the charges against him. The motive for the shooting appeared to be rooted in an incident that occurred five days prior, in which Pence was allegedly robbed and assaulted by Darden and another individual. During that altercation, a backpack containing marijuana and vehicle keys was reportedly stolen from Pence.
On the day of the fatal encounter, Pence was at the apartment complex to jumpstart his car when he saw Darden. He then approached Darden and shot him before fleeing the scene. In January 2022, Robert A. Pence pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the death of Daniel Darden.
