In the spring of 2018, the life of 15-year-old Jesus Reyes was tragically cut short on the streets of Kansas City, Missouri. Known in the local skateboarding community as 'Lil Jesus,' he was a talented and goofy teenager, often seen with a smile and the tell-tale orange dust of his favorite Cheetos snack on his face. Beyond his passion for skateboarding, Reyes was also a budding artist with a talent for graffiti-style art. Friends and fellow skateboarders saw great potential in him, believing he had the skills to possibly go professional one day, a bright future that was extinguished on the night of April 16th.
That evening, Reyes and a 16-year-old friend arranged to purchase a gun from someone they knew from school. The meeting was set up via Facebook, a seemingly modern and casual transaction that would soon turn fatal. They met near the intersection of 16th Terrace and Bennington, where Reyes was in the passenger seat of a car. After the money for the firearm, a Glock 27 with an extended magazine, was handed over, the exchange took a violent turn. Instead of receiving the gun, both Reyes and his friend were shot.
Though critically wounded, the driver managed to speed away from the scene, coming to a stop in the middle of the intersection at Truman Road and Hardesty Avenue, where he called for help. When police arrived around 10 p.m., they found Reyes had already succumbed to his injuries. His friend was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening wounds but ultimately survived to become a key witness in the investigation that followed.
The investigation led police to two suspects, 17-year-old Andrew Rodriquez and his cousin, 16-year-old Xavier I. Jones. They were located and taken into custody in the basement of a nearby home. A search of the residence uncovered several firearms, including a Glock 27, as well as narcotics. While in custody, Rodriquez was reportedly overheard admitting to the shooting, claiming he felt threatened.
Subsequently, Andrew Rodriquez was certified to stand trial as an adult and faced charges of second-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault, and first-degree robbery. Xavier I. Jones was also charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, and three counts of armed criminal action. Prosecutors requested a bond of $500,000 for each of the teens accused in the killing of Jesus Reyes.
