On the evening of August 19, 2022, police were summoned to a residence in the 3500 block of Wayne Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, following reports of a disturbance and shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered 23-year-old Black male John Greer inside a home, suffering from critical gunshot wounds. Emergency responders transported him to a nearby hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Witnesses at the scene described a violent confrontation that began in an empty lot up the block and escalated into a fatal ambush.
According to court records and witness accounts, Greer was visiting the neighborhood when he was approached by 22-year-old Davon D. Canady, who was accompanied by a group that included 21-year-old Nathaniel Carter. Canady challenged Greer to a fight and initially attempted to strike him with a handgun. When Greer successfully blocked the attack, Canady handed the firearm to Carter so that he could engage Greer in a fistfight. Witnesses reported that Greer began to win the physical altercation, causing Canady to lose the upper hand.
As the fight turned against Canady, Carter allegedly intervened by firing a shot into Greer's back. The wounded victim attempted to flee toward a nearby residence for safety, but Canady reportedly retrieved the gun from Carter and shot Greer a second time in the back. Following the shooting, the suspects were seen fleeing the scene in a black Chevy Monte Carlo which was later determined to have altered or fake license plates.
Investigators utilized witness statements and surveillance footage to identify the suspects involved in the homicide. In late September 2022, prosecutors charged Davon D. Canady with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. A week later, Nathaniel Carter was also charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action for his role in the slaying. Both men were held in the Jackson County jail on substantial bonds as the legal proceedings commenced.
