Man died after saving son during botched Xbox heist, son says at sentencing

JACKSON, MI – Guy Mannor is convinced he wouldn’t be alive today if his father hadn’t intervened when, while trying to sell an Xbox, the buyer robbed him of the gaming system instead of paying for it.

“I have no doubt that if my father had not intervened, I would have been killed,” he said Wednesday, Oct. 20, during D’Montae Rowser’s sentencing hearing. “My father saved my life. I sold an Xbox. I didn’t know this would be the worst day of my life.”

Jackson County Circuit Judge Susan Jordan sentenced Rowser to 18.5 to 30 years in prison for armed robbery and seven to 15 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter for the death of Kenneth Mannor, 70.

Rowser, 22, was originally charged with open murder for the fatal encounter in January 2022 at the Southridge Park Apartments in Jackson. After lengthy deliberations, jurors found him guilty on September 16 of manslaughter, armed robbery, three counts of carrying a firearm to commit a crime and one count of assault and battery.

“I’m deeply sorry for what happened,” Rowser said, facing Mannor’s family sitting in the gallery. “I should have just bought the Xbox. It’s still my fault. I was scared. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I didn’t want anyone to die. I should have just paid for it. I defended my life. I’m sorry about his death.”

Assistant Prosecutor Stormie McGee argued that under the law, Rowser should have at least been found guilty of murder – murder committed in the commission of certain serious crimes – since he was convicted and even admitted to the robbery. For such a conviction, he would have been sentenced to life in prison.

Jordan said the jury made its decision at the end of the trial and she will not overrule it.

“I believe the jury got it wrong,” Guy Mannor told Jordan. “You don’t plan a robbery with a gun unless you plan to shoot and kill. My father died saving my life. Rowser deserves the harshest punishment you can give him. Many people lost their friend. The world has lost a good man.”

Many members of the Mannor family were present to tell the court about the pain they have felt since the shooting.

“My heart sank the day I got the call that Kenneth had been shot not once, but twice,” his wife of 46 years, Barbara Mannor, said through tears. “Not a minute goes by that I don’t think about my husband and how much I miss him. I slept on the couch for months until our wedding day. I tried to sleep in our bed, but it felt so lonely without him. I miss Ken so much.”

Kenneth Mannor’s eldest brother, James Mannor, said he still mourns his brother’s death and questions Rowser’s true intentions on the day of the shooting.

“How could this not have been premeditated?” he said. “(Rowser) changed where he wanted to meet. Why couldn’t he bear to meet in a public place? Why carry a gun? He knew what he was doing.”

Jackson Police were called to the apartment complex around 2 p.m. on January 9, 2022, and officers found Kenneth Mannor suffering from gunshot wounds to his hip and leg.

Kenneth Mannor said he and his son, Guy Mannor, met with Rowser to sell him a video game system, police said. Rowser added that he then pointed a gun at the couple and tried to rob them.

The elder Mannor, who was legally carrying a gun, then drew his own firearm, police said. The two exchanged gunfire before Rowser fled the area on foot.

Testimony and videos presented at trial showed Rowser walked away and only drew his gun after he was shot, Rowser’s attorney Andrew Kirkpatrick said.

Kirkpatrick said Rowser admitted to the robbery but never intended to shoot anyone, arguing that Rowser ran away and slipped on the ice while Kenneth Mannor shot him. He was trying to defend himself, the lawyer said.

“I am confident that if Mr. Mannor had not pulled out a gun, we would not be here on a manslaughter case. It would just be a robbery. Rowser tried to run away,” he said.

Over the course of seven months, Kenneth Mannor underwent multiple surgeries in attempts to save his life, but he soon developed infections, causing his health to deteriorate dramatically, Guy Mannor said.

“Later he lost the ability to swallow,” Guy Mannor said. “Imagine not being able to eat or drink? He was thirsty for months. He suffered every day and yet he wanted to live. He fought so much.”

Guy Mannor said his father fought as long as he could until July 1 when he decided he wanted to go home and be with his family. He died 17 days later with his family by his side.

Kenneth Mannor was a retired corrections officer in Michigan and enjoyed riding his motorcycle and following the Detroit and Michigan State University sports teams, according to an obituary published by Burden-Patience-Montgomery Funeral Home.

Rowers was credited with time served for his assault and battery charges, as well as for the three firearms convictions. He was credited with 270 days served on his remaining convictions for manslaughter and armed robbery.

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