Jaylani Cole

Jaylani Cole, 20, male, Black/African American, was shot just after 3:30 a.m. on June 25, 2025, in the parking lot of the BJ's Wholesale Club at 688 Providence Highway in Dedham. Police responding to multiple 911 calls found him suffering from gunshot wounds; he was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. A second 20-year-old man was also shot, underwent surgery, and was expected to recover. The store was closed at the time, and early statements from authorities emphasized an active investigation as detectives from the Massachusetts State Police and Dedham Police worked the scene.

In the weeks that followed, investigators said the violence unfolded during a late-night vehicle meet-up coordinated through social media. On July 20, prosecutors announced the first arrest: Franci Villar, 23, of Dorchester, to be arraigned on charges that included armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a firearm, and several firearms offenses connected to the shooting. Later, on September 25, State Police and Malden Police arrested James Brown, 23, of Malden, and prosecutors said he would be arraigned on charges including murder, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a firearm, and carrying a firearm without a license. A third person, Ivelisse D. Santiago, 24, of East Boston, was charged as an accessory after the fact and with carrying a firearm without a license; she pleaded not guilty and was released on cash bail. Prosecutors said Brown and Villar were being held without bail ahead of superior court dates in early October.

Authorities publicly identified Cole as a Brockton native and confirmed the broad outlines of the crime and its aftermath on the day of the shooting, reiterating appeals for witnesses to come forward. Subsequent local reporting the day of the homicide and in the months after reinforced the timeline, location, and the condition of the surviving victim, while documenting the arrests and charges as the case moved from district court to superior court.