In the early morning hours of July 21, 2019, the life of Salonya Marsha “Dee” Evans, a 24-year-old Black woman, was tragically cut short in Roanoke, Virginia. A compassionate and dedicated Certified Nursing Assistant at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Evans was found with a gunshot wound on the sidewalk outside a residence in the 900 block of Morehead Avenue SE. Despite the efforts of first responders, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Evans was described by those who knew her as incredibly intelligent, motivated, and positive, a loving mother to her young daughter.
The investigation into her death suggested a possible connection to a home break-in. According to a search warrant, Evans's boyfriend, with whom she lived, arrived at the scene shortly after the police and reported that he had come home to find it broken into and his girlfriend missing. For years, the case remained under investigation as Roanoke Police detectives diligently followed leads to bring justice for Evans and her family.
In November 2022, a significant breakthrough occurred in the case with the arrest of Kai Lansana, then 32, of Alexandria, Virginia. Lansana was identified as the suspect and was apprehended in Frankfort, Kentucky, by the U.S. Marshals Service. He was subsequently extradited back to Roanoke to face charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and statutory burglary.
After years of waiting, Salonya Evans's family received a measure of closure in September 2024, when a jury found Kai Lansana guilty of her murder. He was sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder charge, with an additional eight years for the related charges. The resolution of the case brought an end to a long and painful chapter for a community that had mourned the loss of a young woman dedicated to helping others.
