In the late afternoon of August 20, 2022, a fatal encounter unfolded in the parking lot of a Moser's Grocery Store on Keene Street in Columbia, Missouri, claiming the life of 22-year-old Shavez Avieon Waage. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene around 4:20 p.m. following reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, they discovered Waage in the driver's seat of his vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate medical aid provided by officers at the scene, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
Known for his passion for fitness and an inspirational personality, Shavez was actively building a nutrition and supplement company. He had a love for travel and was remembered by family and friends as a remarkable individual who motivated others to be their best. The investigation into his untimely death would soon reveal that it was the tragic outcome of a robbery that turned violent.
Authorities quickly identified two suspects in connection with the homicide: Loyal Benae Martel, 22, of Holts Summit, and Joshua Roger Lee Dudley, 22, of Kirksville. The subsequent investigation, aided by security footage from the grocery store, showed Waage parking his car next to a dark gray Ford Fusion. Martel and Dudley were then seen entering Waage's car. Shortly after, Martel exited the vehicle, leaned back in, and then both he and Dudley fled in the Ford Fusion.
With the assistance of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Holts Summit, Fulton, and Kirksville Police Departments, as well as the Callaway County Sheriff's Department, both suspects were located and taken into custody. Martel was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action. Dudley faced charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and armed criminal action. Court documents indicated that the suspects' intention was to rob Waage. Following their arrests, both men were held in the Boone County Jail without bond as the legal proceedings against them commenced.
