Cody Kuefner

A dispute that began at a bar in Kokomo, Indiana, in the early morning hours of September 27, 2020, escalated into a fatal shooting that took the life of Cody Kuefner, a 23-year-old white male. The incident started with an altercation and a hit-and-run at The Country Palace involving a man named Daniel R. Bray Jr.

The conflict did not end at the bar. It carried over to a property in the 2400 block of North Washington Street, which was later identified as Bray’s residence. There, the confrontation reached its tragic conclusion when Bray reportedly brandished a firearm and fired a single shot. That one bullet struck two people: Cody Kuefner and another Kokomo resident, 34-year-old James D. Conwell.

Shortly before 5 a.m., police were dispatched to the area of Fischer and Washington streets in response to the shooting. Both Kuefner and Conwell were transported to St. Vincent Kokomo for medical attention. While Conwell was treated for his injuries, Kuefner succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Authorities arrested Daniel R. Bray Jr., a 34-year-old resident of Kokomo, in connection with the shooting. He initially faced several charges, including Voluntary Manslaughter, a Level 2 Felony; Reckless Homicide, a Level 5 Felony; Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 Felony; and Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor. In July 2022, Bray entered into a plea agreement and was sentenced to 12 years in the Indiana Department of Correction.