Family still seeks answers more than 3 years after deadly Ames shooting

AMES, Iowa (KCCI) -- Stanley Hardin is grappling with the profound sorrow of losing his 23-year-old son, Stashaun Brown, who was tragically killed in October 2021 during an exchange of gunfire at a private event at the Elks Lodge. Hardin is determined to seek justice for his son, believing firmly that "my son deserves justice."

Accompanied by Stashaun's grandmother, Raynelle Honeycutt-Wheels, Hardin shared memories of his son, emphasizing that while Stashaun was not perfect, he certainly did not deserve the violent fate he met. "He's a typical young man. But he didn't deserve to die the way he did," Honeycutt-Wheels remarked, reflecting the family's grief and frustration.

Despite their efforts, the family has expressed disappointment regarding the lack of progress in the investigation. They have been in touch with Ames police but feel let down by the absence of arrests or new leads in the case. This ongoing inaction has exacerbated their emotional distress as they await any updates from law enforcement.

To spur further progress, a Crime Stoppers reward of $1,000 has been established, but the family feels this amount is too small to effectively encourage someone to come forward with information. They are advocating for a higher reward in hopes that it will motivate potential witnesses to step forward.

Hardin and Honeycutt-Wheels remain hopeful that with increased incentives, the community might help bring Stashaun's killers to justice, alleviating some of the weight of their grief and frustration.