In the late hours of an autumn evening in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the life of a 16-year-old Black male, JaQuez JQuon Jones, was cut short by gunfire. On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at approximately 11:02 PM, officers from the Lake Charles Police Department were dispatched to the area of Anita Drive and 6th Street after receiving a 911 call about a shooting.
Upon their arrival, they discovered the body of the young man, a victim of a fatal gunshot wound.
JaQuez, known to his loved ones as "Quez," was a student at F.K. White Middle School where he was a well-regarded student who enjoyed playing basketball and football. He was described by his family as a respectful, humble, caring, and loving individual who, despite his young age, lived his life to the fullest. In his free time, he cherished moments spent with his family and friends, often playing sports or video games with his brothers and cousins. His sudden and violent death left his family and community in mourning.
The investigation into the homicide progressed quickly. The day after the shooting, on October 22, 2020, police arrested 23-year-old Jasmine Renee Fontenot. She was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of juveniles, and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.
A few days later, on Monday, October 26, the Lake Charles Police Department's SWAT team took a 16-year-old juvenile into custody. The juvenile faced severe charges, including one count of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a juvenile, and illegal use of dangerous instrumentalities. The following day, October 27, investigators arrested 18-year-old Jatylan Jones. He was charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles with violence. Authorities indicated that the investigation was ongoing and that more arrests were expected.
