PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A homeless man is accused of killing another man who attempted to confront him about cutting the bathroom line at a Phoenix gas station last week.
Deondre Franklin, 25, was taken into custody for the shooting death of 52-year-old Danny Kaster.
Just before 8 a.m. on Jan. 16, officers were called to a QuikTrip store at 44th and Oak streets, between Thomas and McDowell roads. Police arrived and found Kaster lying on the floor outside the men’s bathroom before he was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
According to court documents, Kaster was shot multiple times in the face, shoulder and leg.
A witness explained that he was inside the bathroom, waiting in line for a stall, when the confrontation occurred. Court documents state the witness reported seeing Kaster go to the bathroom area and get in line, only to have Franklin walk in, bypass the line and pull on the door handles. Kaster told Franklin that there was a line, and he reportedly said, “he knew that.”
However, the interaction grew hostile when Franklin made a comment toward Kaster, telling him, “What the [expletive] are you looking at?” The two men began arguing when Franklin reportedly told Kaster they should “take it outside,” according to court paperwork. The witness said the two men walked outside, and moments later, he heard several gunshots.
Deondre Franklin, 25, was taken into custody for the shooting death of Danny Kaster, 52.(Arizona’s Family/Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
Several witnesses saw Franklin get into a gray sedan with a woman before leaving the scene. Another witness told authorities that he was waiting for his wife when he saw Franklin holding a gun and Kaster attempting to grab the gun. The witness heard two or three more gunshots and attempted to help Kaster once he realized he was injured.
Court documents detailed the surveillance video that showed the shooting. Video reportedly shows Franklin closely following Kaster as they both walked out of the bathroom. On video, Franklin is seen pointing a gun at Kaster and firing multiple shots, causing Kaster to collapse to the ground. Franklin then reportedly ran out of the gas station.
After the shooting, police say Franklin called his mother and stepfather, telling them that he got into an argument and “shot someone inside the QuikTrip.” His mother told him to turn himself in, and Franklin surrendered to police the next day.
In an interview with detectives, Franklin said he was homeless and went into the gas station to use the bathroom. He claimed he didn’t see there was a line for the stalls and was going to the back of the line once Kaster told him.
However, Franklin said he noticed Kaster “was staring at him” as he was walking and claimed Kaster “became hostile,” according to court paperwork. Franklin said he saw another man standing next to Kaster and was afraid “he might get beaten up.”
As he walked out of the bathroom, Franklin claimed he saw Kaster following him and fired twice “to defend himself.” He reportedly said he was “scared and didn’t know what to do,” so he fled the scene.
Family members set up a memorial for Kaster outside of the QuikTrip, remembering him as a brother, dog lover, friend and uncle.
“He left for work on Friday never coming back in because he told somebody ‘Hey, there’s the end of the line,’” Kaster’s sister, Delca, said. “It’s a nightmare. We haven’t been able to process it or understand that he’s never coming home.”
A family friend started a GoFundMe to help cover Kaster’s funeral expenses.
Franklin was booked on one count of second-degree murder.
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