On February 12, 2020, 17-year-old Zaequan Deloatch was tragically shot and killed in Raleigh, North Carolina. The incident occurred just before 11 p.m. in the 5400 block of Duckling Way. Zaequan, an African American male, was found with a gunshot wound and was immediately taken to WakeMed Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Raleigh Police Department officers believe that Zaequan was shot on Rogers Farm Drive before he ran to Duckling Way, where he was discovered.
The investigation
into Zaequan's death led to the arrest of three individuals. On February 17, 2020, Raleigh police charged 18-year-old James Carlos Jarquin, 19-year-old Santiago Alejandro Pacheco, and 21-year-old Trampus Malik Brodie with murder in connection to the shooting. James Jarquin, of Zebulon, was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Santiago Pacheco, of Wendell, and Trampus Brodie, of Knightdale, were taken to the Wake County Detention Center. The arrests were made after detectives gathered evidence and witness statements, including a 911 call reporting a black SUV driving away from the scene with no lights on.
Zaequan's friend, Xavier Gunnell, described him as a calm and good-natured person who stayed out of trouble. The community was deeply affected by the loss of such a young life, with many expressing their sorrow and disbelief. Kyle Weidner, who works at a nearby business, mentioned that his coworkers were reviewing surveillance footage for clues about the incident. The Raleigh Police Department continued to investigate the case, treating it as the city's third homicide of 2020.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and police have not disclosed whether they believe the black SUV was connected to the homicide. The suspects, Jarquin, Pacheco, and Brodie, were expected to appear in court on March 9, 2020. The community and law enforcement officials hoped for justice for Zaequan and his family as the investigation and legal proceedings continued.
