Kenyel William Brown was born on July 3, 1979, into a big family with many brothers and sisters. He grew up in the city of River Rouge, where he went to the local River Rouge High School. During his childhood, Kenyel enjoyed playing basketball and was very good at it. His athletic skills made him a standout player on his school's team.

As a teenager, Kenyel's life took a difficult turn. He started using drugs, which changed him a lot. His drug addiction became a major problem and affected his behavior and relationships. This was a tough time for Kenyel and his family.

From 1997 to 2019, Kenyel faced many legal troubles. He was arrested and put in jail several times. Despite his early potential as a basketball player, his addiction and legal issues overshadowed his talents and opportunities.

The series of murders committed by Kenyel Brown started on December 7, 2019. On this day, Brown shot and killed 31-year-old Loren Hattington in River Rouge. This marked the beginning of a spree of violent crimes that would shock the community and draw intense police attention.

On January 30, 2020, Brown visited some friends he knew from his youth. These friends were 48-year-old Dorian Patterson and his brother, Gerald. The group drank alcohol together. Later that night, two more people, 52-year-old Kimberly Green and 44-year-old Clifton Smith, joined them. A heated argument broke out, and Brown shot and killed Green and Patterson. He also shot Smith, but Smith managed to escape and notify the police. With the information provided by Smith and Gerald Patterson, the police put Brown on the wanted list.

Brown's next known murder occurred on February 18, 2020, when he shot and killed 49-year-old Garcius Woodyard in Highland Park during a robbery. Two days later, on February 20, Brown murdered 41-year-old Amir Thaxton in his clothing store in Detroit. Brown, who knew Thaxton, was seen on surveillance footage visiting the store and stealing money, valuables, and a Caravan after killing him. This evidence made him a prime suspect in Thaxton's murder.

On February 22, 2020, Brown's crime spree continued with the murder of 36-year-old Eugene Jennings. Brown shot Jennings while attempting to steal his car, which investigators believe was his last known victim.

The search for Brown intensified, led by the United States Marshal Service Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Detroit Field Division. The manhunt for Brown ended on February 24, 2020. He was spotted at an adult bookstore in Oak Park. Employees recognized him and called the police. Although Brown tried to escape, police quickly surrounded the area. Brown attempted to evade capture by sneaking through houses but was eventually cornered by law enforcement. In a final desperate act, Brown shot himself in the head. He was taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries four days later, on February 28, 2020. The murders caused a major uproar in both the city and the state when it was revealed that Brown, a known repeat offender, had been working as a police informant.