Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley Sentenced to Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole for Shooting and Killing a Mother in Front of Her Two Children

On January 10, 2024, Skanes and Beasley went to Alyson Appling-France’s apartment complex and conducted surveillance on her apartment for approximately eight hours. Clarence Bennett, Skanes, and Beasley then followed the victim to a local Target in Cleveland. Bennett continued to watch Alyson Appling-France exit her driver’s vehicle with her two daughters, ages 6 and 10, and enter Target. He then waited until she exited the store and re-entered the vehicle. He informed Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley she was heading back to her apartment with her two daughters.

The victim’s driver pulled into Appling-France’s apartment complex near Detroit Avenue and Berea Road in Cleveland. Jamar Skanes and Alontez Beasley were waiting for her to arrive. As the victim opened the vehicle door and began to unload groceries, Beasley approached her and shot her with an automatic firearm 17 times within seconds. Skanes and Beasley then fled the scene. The victim’s driver immediately drove her to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The Cleveland Division of Police responded to the scene. On January 26, Skanes and Beasley were arrested.