Javon Reilly, a 16-year-old male, was walking home from Van Horn High School in Independence, Missouri, on the afternoon of September 19, 2016, when his life was tragically cut short. He was a popular student who enjoyed playing football and basketball and was known for his stylish dress and the close relationship he shared with his mother and brothers.
Friends and family described him as a caring and respectful young man who was focused on his studies to ensure he could participate in school sports.
On that Monday afternoon, Javon was confronted in the driveway of a home on South Home Avenue. The confrontation was with 20-year-old Tymon Reed, who was reportedly angry with some of Javon's friends. Javon attempted to walk away from the escalating situation, but Reed pursued him and produced a handgun. A struggle over the weapon ensued, during which the gun discharged, wounding Javon. As the injured teenager tried to limp away, Reed fired several more shots, fatally wounding him.
Following the shooting, an investigation led Independence police to Tymon Reed, who was subsequently arrested. Prosecutors charged Reed with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. The case went to trial, and in January 2018, a Jackson County jury found Tymon Reed guilty of both charges in the death of Javon Reilly. Reed was sentenced in March 2018 for the senseless act of violence that took the life of the promising high school student.
