In the early hours of a September morning in 2020, the vibrant life of 19-year-old Jaquayla Aerial Young was tragically cut short in Rochester, New York. She was a promising young Black woman with a bright future ahead of her. A graduate of East High School, Jaquayla was known for her leadership as the captain of the cheerleading team and her academic achievements, which earned her the title of an Urban League of Rochester Black Scholar.
She was pursuing higher education at Monroe Community College and was remembered by those who knew her as an incredible and motivated individual who embodied everything a parent could hope for in a child.
On the night of September 19, 2020, Jaquayla attended a backyard party on Pennsylvania Avenue. The gathering, initially intended to be a small affair, grew significantly as people from other nearby parties joined. With over 100 people present, a dispute broke out, escalating into a chaotic scene of gunfire. It is believed that multiple shooters discharged their weapons, firing dozens of rounds into the crowd. In the midst of this violence, Jaquayla and another 19-year-old, Jarvis Alexander, were struck by bullets. Both were innocent bystanders, not the intended targets of the shooters. The mass shooting, the largest in Rochester's recent history, left an additional 14 people wounded.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Rochester Police Department launched an extensive investigation. Authorities interviewed over one hundred individuals who were present at the party and collected numerous pieces of evidence from the scene. Despite these efforts and the passage of time, no arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of Jaquayla Young and Jarvis Alexander. The case remains an open and active investigation. Police have urged anyone with information, including photos or videos from the party, to come forward to help bring those responsible to justice. The community continues to mourn the senseless loss of two young lives and awaits answers in this unsolved case.
