In what has been described as a tragic accident, 16-year-old Jaydon Jones died on the evening of Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. The incident occurred at The Nolan apartments located in the 6600 block of South Hulen Street. Jones was at his best friend's apartment when the fatal event unfolded.
According to police reports, Jones and his 16-year-old friend had been handling a pistol throughout the day.
Around 5:15 p.m., the friend accidentally fired the weapon, striking Jones in the chest. Emergency services were called to the scene, but Jaydon Jones was pronounced dead inside the apartment.
The shooter, who is also 16, was detained at the scene and later arrested. He has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the shooting. The name of the suspect has not been publicly released because he is a minor. Authorities have stated that the suspect remained at the scene and has been cooperating with the investigation. The case is being investigated by homicide detectives who are working to understand the circumstances that led to the accidental discharge of the firearm.
Jaydon's parents, Jessica Taylor and Marcus Jones, described their son as a loving and shy teenager with a passion for basketball, a sport he had played since he was five years old. The family expressed their profound grief, stating that what they expected to be a normal day of their son visiting his best friend turned into the worst day of their lives. A GoFundMe page was created to help with funeral expenses. The incident has highlighted concerns within the community regarding teenagers' access to firearms.
