Wanner was an employee at the car dealership. Surveillance video shows a man later identified as 21-year-old Edward Cornejo-Juarez of Kansas City enter the shop before 10:45 a.m., speak with Wanner, and then the two exit the building together shortly before the shooting. Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot, a scream, and another gunshot; a witness found Wanner on the ground and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police found Cornejo-Juarez outside the dealership and took him into custody. During an interview he gave conflicting statements, at one point saying he felt scared and fired because he thought the man was going to come at him, and at another point saying he did not know the victim and referred to him as just a stranger. Cornejo-Juarez also told police he had smoked what he believed to be synthetic marijuana and was tripping that morning. He was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action and held in the Cass County jail with bond set at $250,000 cash.