In the quiet streets of Dubuque, Iowa, a young life was tragically cut short on the night of March 9, 2026. Sixteen-year-old JaKory McMillian, a male resident of the city, was fatally shot in an alley near the intersection of West Locust and Foye Streets. The incident, which unfolded around 10 p.m., stemmed from a dispute that escalated into a fatal act of violence.
Authorities were called to the scene following reports of a shooting and discovered McMillian suffering from a gunshot
wound. He was quickly transported to UnityPoint Finley Hospital, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he was pronounced dead. The initial investigation by the Dubuque Police Department suggested that the individuals involved knew each other and that the shooting was the culmination of a prior disturbance.
In the days that followed, the investigation led to the identification of a suspect, 18-year-old Latrell Powell-Moore of Dubuque. According to police reports, an altercation between McMillian and Powell-Moore preceded the shooting. It is alleged that Powell-Moore brandished a handgun, prompting McMillian to flee. Powell-Moore reportedly pursued McMillian, struck him with the weapon, and then shot him at close range after he had fallen to the ground. The confrontation is said to have started over comments Powell-Moore made about McMillian's deceased mother.
A warrant was issued for Powell-Moore's arrest on a charge of first-degree murder. On March 12, 2026, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Cedar Rapids and Marion Police Departments, Powell-Moore was located in Marion, Iowa, and taken into custody. He was subsequently transported to the Dubuque County Jail and held on a $2 million bond. The charge of first-degree murder is a Class A Felony in Iowa and carries a potential sentence of life in prison.
