Naman Shrestha
Gunshots echoed across an otherwise quaint neighborhood in Kansas City in the summer of 2019, leading to a chilling double homicide that shook the entire community to its core. The murders took place inside a local deli, where Lachell Day and Dennis Edwards, the deli’s owner, were attacked. When law enforcement officials arrived at the scene, they were also met with the perpetrator’s gunshots. The episode titled ‘I Just Shot My Girlfriend’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Real PD: Kansas City’ chronicles the entire case and the investigation that followed.
A Local Deli Became a Crime Scene With the Murders of Lachell Day and Dennis Edwards
Lachell Day and Dennis Edwards were reputed members of the community, with family and friends who doted upon them. The latter was born on August 1, 1956, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Cedric Noah Edwards and Betty June Lee. Known for his hardworking nature and warm personality, the 62-year-old had lived a life with no death of love and laughter. Family was integral to Dennis, who cherished the moments he spent with likely all the members of the Edwards family, particularly his siblings — a sister, Shawna, and two brothers, Eddie and David Ray Edwards. Though their sister, Gene Orville Edwards AKA Butch had passed on, they kept her spirit alive in their hearts.
Dennis’ world revolved around his daughter Erika Whittet, who later settled in Tulsa after her wedding to Joseph. Though the family members had lives of their own, they ensured that they checked up on each other from time to time. Quite early on, the Wyandotte High School graduate got involved in the family business, Edwards Original Corner Market and Deli, which his parents purchased when he was 3 years old. Over the years, he learned the tricks of the trade from his parents. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it was shut down in 1986. Sometime following that, Dennis reportedly checked himself into rehab to deal with some personal issues. After working on himself for years, he grew into a determined man who created a beautiful life for himself. To continue his family’s legacy, he also reopened the deli in the late 2000s.
Dennis loved running Edwards Original Corner Market and Deli, located at 81 North Mill Street, which had become a go-to spot for the locals for its chill and friendly vibe, great service, and excellent Philly cheese steaks. He had recently bought a beer license and had some big plans for improving the business. In his downtime, Dennis loved riding his motorcycle and hanging out with his friends at the fraternal and community-service organization, Moose Lodge #1999. His affable nature also enabled him to forge a good rapport with his customers. One such customer was Lachell Jean Day. Born on April 17, 1977, the 42-year-old was a regular at the market and deli. She shared a close bond with her sister, Lanita, who described her as a kind-hearted person who was free-spirited and full of life.
Lachell graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1995. In 2019, she was reportedly employed at a local business called Flawless Mafia ENT and had also worked at General Motors and G4S at some point. On July 10, 2019, Lachell visited Edwards Original Corner Market and Deli in the afternoon. Dennis was busy minding his business as usual when suddenly a man opened fire at Lachell inside the store, prompting Dennis to run after him. Sadly, the 62-year-old became a target of the shooting alongside Lachell. When the police responded to the reports of a shooting in the market, they rushed in to find an unresponsive Dennis and a critically wounded Lachell. While the former was pronounced dead on the spot, the latter was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries on the night of July 11, 2019.
The Killer Had an Argument With Lachell Day Right Before the Murders
As soon as the authorities arrived at the scene of the crime and spotted Lachell Day dead inside Edwards Original Corner Market and Deli, the suspect began shooting at them from inside, forcing them to retreat outside. The standoff between the officers and the shooter continued for the next two hours until they were able to injure him with a gunshot. As the police approached the injured suspect, they identified him as Lachell Day’s on-and-off boyfriend, Jermelle Andre-Lamont Byers, who was rushed to a nearby hospital. After he was treated for the gunshot wound, he was taken into custody. Upon investigating the murders, the detectives learned that Lachell Day and Jermelle started their heated argument in the SUV parked outside the deli at 81 North Mill Street.
When the former went inside in the middle of their fight, he followed her and shot her to death. When the deli owner, Dennis Edwards, tried to intervene and chase the shooter out, he was also killed. During Jermelle’s interrogation, he told the investigators that earlier on the fateful day, he had learned about Lachell’s infidelity. He also claimed that it was she who pulled a gun on him. According to him, he went inside the deli with a gun when she did not return. Eventually, he was arrested and charged with first and second-degree murder. In addition, he was also charged with one count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm against an unidentified victim. Jermelle Byers was held at the Wyandotte County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Jermelle Byers is Currently Incarcerated at a Kansas Prison Facility
More than two years later, in August 2021, Jermelle Byers avoided going to trial by pleading guilty to two counts of felony murder in connection with the killings of 42-year-old Lachell Day and 62-year-old Dennis Edwards. In an interview with KSHB 41 News, Dennis’ brother, David Edwards, stated, “Neither one of them deserved this. Neither one of these people deserve this family, it’s sad. It’s very sad.” In the same interview, the brother also talked about Jermelle’s guilty plea.
David added, “He was a man and stood up to his actions today. He plead guilty, he admitted. And that bring (sic) closure to the family. He’ll get to visit his family through the years, but I won’t be able to visit mine, I’ll have to talk to him through the good Lord.” A few years of waiting later, on May 29, 2025, the killer finally received two life sentences in prison for the two counts of first-degree felony murder. As of today, Jermelle is serving his sentence at El Dorado Correctional Facility in El Dorado, Kansas, with his parole eligibility date scheduled for March 2071.
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