Dvaryhon McKinney, a 22-year-old Black male, was walking to a store in Saginaw, Michigan on the evening of November 2, 2014, when his life was tragically cut short. Accompanied by his friend, Tyrone Clark, McKinney was suddenly pursued by a man who had exited a nearby vehicle. The man, later identified as Edward Minaskar Beamon, opened fire, striking and killing McKinney. Clark was able to escape the volley of bullets without injury.
The investigation into the senseless act of violence revealed a possible case of mistaken identity rooted in a prior conflict. Beamon's cousin, Demont Barnes, who was driving the car that evening, informed authorities that the shooting may have been in retaliation for a nightclub altercation. It is believed that McKinney and Clark were not involved in the initial dispute, but were targeted by Beamon in a tragic error.
Edward Minaskar Beamon was subsequently arrested and brought to trial for his role in the death of Dvaryhon McKinney. A jury found him guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and assault with intent to murder. On March 31, 2016, a judge sentenced Beamon to a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole. His attempts to appeal the conviction were unsuccessful, with the Michigan Court of Appeals upholding the jury's verdict. Beamon is currently serving his life sentence within the Michigan Department of Corrections.
