Marvel L Johnson was shot and killed on the night of December 30, 2012, in the 1300 block of East 81st Street in Kansas City, Missouri. He was 20 and a 2010 graduate of Truman High School, pursuing music with hopes for a career in R&B and gospel. That evening he and his girlfriend were visiting her relatives for dinner and stepped outside around 10:30 p.m.

A young man approached asking for a lighter. Johnson said he did not have one, then asked whether the stranger knew anything about recent car prowlers near the girlfriend’s stepmother’s vehicle. The question appeared to agitate the man, who produced a pistol, told two nearby children to run, and fired. Johnson was shot in the abdomen, staggered back into the house, and collapsed; he died moments later despite his girlfriend’s attempts to help.

Police have not publicly identified the gunman and no arrests have been reported; the motive for the shooting remains unclear. If anyone knew Marvel, was in that neighborhood that night, or has information about who approached them, please come forward.