Accused Banning Murderer Captured By U.S. Marshals Task Force

BANNING, CA — A man accused of killing two people in Banning has been caught after a month on the run, thanks to the efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies. Police report that 44-year-old Kris Kenny was nabbed in Rialto on Tuesday. He was booked into the Banning jail on suspicion of murder, with bail set at $1 million.

Kenny is accused in the deadly shooting that happened on Hoffer Street, near Hargave, on Dec. 29. Police were called by a victim's mother around 7:57 p.m. that night to report her daughter had been shot, officials at the scene told Patch. Once at the single-story home, they found two people with multiple gunshot wounds.

The woman, 37-year-old Shanetta Dixon, died a short time later at the hospital. The man, Francisco Sanchez, died weeks later after being placed in a medically-induced coma, according to authorities.

Kenny was arrested in Rialto Tuesday by a U.S. Marshals Tasks Force. After being seen, he allegedly fled from authorities following a chase and search of the surrounding area, according to a statement from the Banning Police Department. Authorities caught up with him somewhere on Eucalyptus Avenue, jail records show.

Prosecutors charged Kenny earlier this month with Dixon's murder, the attempted murder of Sanchez, and a sentence-enhancing allegation of lying in wait, which could make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. A decision on whether to pursue capital punishment is pending.

A second murder charge is expected to be filed following Sanchez's death.

Kenny and Dixon dated for five years before their relationship ended about six months prior to the shooting, according to an arrest warrant declaration prepared by a Banning police detective.

On Dec. 29, he called Dixon's mother and requested to speak with Dixon because he said "he found out he had cancer and it had spread to both of his lungs, and he wanted to let Dixon know," according to the declaration, which says he showed up at the Hoffer Street home about 10 minutes later.

Dixon's mother told police that she briefly spoke with him and prayed with him before telling him he should leave. He then asked her for water and something to eat, and as she was in the kitchen preparing him food, he went to her daughter's room and shot her multiple times, the declaration alleges.

Dixon's mother heard gunshots and her daughter screaming, then saw Kenny walking out with a handgun while telling her "move Mom, move," according to the document.

Sanchez, who was in another bedroom of the home, walked out of his room to see what was happening and was shot, according to the declaration. Police arrived to find Sanchez suffering from "major wounds" but awake and on his knees. He was able to identify Kenny as the alleged shooter, the declaration says.
Kenny is expected to make his initial court appearance on Thursday.

SEE PREVIOUS:

• 'Armed And Dangerous' Banning Murder Suspect Sought
• Woman Shot Dead In Banning, Another Person Hospitalized
• Suspected Banning Murderer At-Large

Photo of the crime scene by Renee Schiavone / Other photos provided by the Banning Police Department

City News Service contributed to this report