On the evening of May 8, 2022, in the 800 block of Grand Avenue in Columbia, Missouri, 37-year-old Demetrius Ware was shot in the head and killed. Ware’s death occurred on Mother’s Day and left his family, including his two daughters, mourning a profound loss.

The investigation identified 38-year-old Isaac Bryant, who had been paroled in September 2021 after serving part of a seven-year sentence for second-degree robbery and second-degree assault, as the suspect. An arrest warrant was issued and Bryant was taken into custody. He was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

A Boone County jury found Bryant guilty on both counts after about three hours of deliberation in August. At sentencing, Ware’s mother and sister spoke about the impact of his death; the judge imposed life in prison for the murder conviction plus an additional ten years for armed criminal action. A defense motion for a new trial alleging several errors, including concerns about the all-white jury composition, was denied.

If anyone knew Demetrius Ware or has information about the events that night, please share what you know.