On the morning of October 7, 2022, 36-year-old Donald Owens and 32-year-old Ashley Martinez were found shot to death outside a residence in the 6700 block of South Benton Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Police were dispatched shortly after 2 a.m. following a report of an armed individual; Owens was discovered on the screened-in front porch and Martinez in the front yard, both unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene from apparent gunshot wounds.

Investigators quickly focused on a person of interest, 38-year-old David G. McKenzie of Orlando, Florida, who had been living at the Benton Avenue home with his romantic partner and their two children since August. Witnesses said Owens and McKenzie went outside that night to discuss overdue rent, the discussion turned physical, Martinez went outside, and witnesses then heard between four and five gunshots.

A few days later police stopped McKenzie for traffic and took him in for questioning; he was arrested and charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. During an interview he said he returned from a park to find the scene and left because of an active warrant in Florida and appeared upset about the deaths. If anyone knew Owens or Martinez or has information about that night on Benton Avenue, please share what you know.