Yancy Ja’Quan Tremel Whitehead was a 22-year-old man deeply involved in his Topeka, Kansas, community. Born in the city on January 21, 2003, Yancy was a graduate of Topeka Public Schools and an employee at Mars Chocolate. He had been baptized at True Light Ministries in 2019 and was known for his active participation in local life. He helped with neighborhood cleanups, community gardens, and programs to assist senior citizens.
As a youth, he played on local football and basketball teams and was part of a college preparation program. His family and friends remembered him for his love of music, the gym, and spending time with them.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, March 8, 2025, Yancy’s life was cut short. Just after 3 a.m., Topeka police responded to reports of a shooting in the 2900 block of SE Freemont Road. First responders found Yancy, a Black male, with life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Shortly after, police learned that two other people had arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds from the same incident. One person’s injuries were life-threatening, while the other’s were not. The shooting marked the city’s third homicide investigation of the year.
The investigation quickly led police to identify a person of interest, and they asked the public for help locating 45-year-old Robert Reyes of Topeka. The search was brief. Just before midnight on Sunday, March 9, officers located and arrested Reyes without incident. He was booked into the Shawnee County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Prosecutors later formally charged Robert Reyes with one count of intentional second-degree murder in connection with Yancy Whitehead’s death. His bond was set at one million dollars, and he remained in custody.
In April 2026, Reyes faced a jury trial in Shawnee County. The trial began on April 20 and concluded on April 27 with the jury finding him guilty of a lesser charge, voluntary manslaughter. At the state’s request, the court revoked Reyes’ bond. In July 2026, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
