In the early morning hours of May 21, 2018, Shannon Rozanski-Schoen, a 48-year-old White/Caucasian mother of four, was working her shift at a Marathon gas station in Wyoming, Michigan. Described by friends and family as a generous and outgoing woman who would give the shirt off her back to a stranger, she had worked at the gas station for years and had been robbed on multiple occasions.
On this particular morning, a man named Willie Bryant Jr. entered the store armed with a handgun.
In what was later described by the Kent County Chief Assistant Prosecutor as a 'cold-blooded execution,' Bryant shot Shannon twice, ending her life at the scene. The entire tragic event was captured on surveillance footage, which proved to be a critical piece of evidence.
The investigation into Shannon's murder moved swiftly. Later that same day, law enforcement apprehended Willie Bryant Jr. and his cousin, Gary Bryant, who had acted as the getaway driver. Willie Bryant Jr. was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and felony use of a firearm. Gary Bryant initially faced a felony murder charge.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, Gary Bryant accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to a lesser charge of assault with intent to rob while armed in exchange for his testimony against his cousin. Willie Bryant Jr.'s trial concluded with the jury deliberating for approximately 90 minutes before finding him guilty on all charges. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would never again pose a threat to the community. Gary Bryant received a reduced sentence for his cooperation. The resolution of the case brought a measure of justice for Shannon's grieving family and a community shocked by the senseless violence of her death.
