Kenneth Michael Schmidt II, a young man remembered for his ability to make people feel truly loved, was shot and killed in a violent altercation in Bullhead City, Arizona. He was 22 years old. Born on March 4, 2004, Kenneth was known by his loved ones as a gentle and funny person whose presence could light up any room. His family recalled how his smile could lift them out of a bad day and his jokes could make them forget their worries.
Described as "stubborn in the best ways," he was full of dreams that he did not have enough time to pursue. He is deeply missed by his mother, Deanna Crane; his father, Kenneth; his brothers, Eddie and Austin; and a wide circle of friends who had become his family.
The evening of September 24, 2026, turned tragic when a family dispute escalated into a deadly shootout in a residential neighborhood. At approximately 6:56 p.m., the Bullhead City Police Department received multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the 1800 block of Coral Isle Drive. When officers and first responders arrived at the scene outside a residence, they found three men had been shot. Kenneth, who was from the nearby city of Kingman, was pronounced dead in the driveway. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, back, and head. A second victim, an unidentified 23-year-old man, was critically injured and airlifted to a hospital in Las Vegas for treatment. The third man shot was one of the alleged shooters.
The investigation into the shooting was handled by the Bullhead City Police Department. Detectives determined that the incident began as a confrontation between family members. According to police, 26-year-old Julio Cesar Quijada of Bullhead City was the primary aggressor. During the dispute, Quijada allegedly fired several rounds, striking Kenneth and the 23-year-old victim. Police stated that another man, 20-year-old Jaquim Adoraim Juarez, also of Bullhead City, returned fire and shot Quijada in the stomach.
In the immediate aftermath, Quijada was transported to Western Arizona Regional Medical Center for his injury. After being treated and released, he was arrested by police. He was booked into the Mohave County Jail in Kingman on charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct with a deadly weapon, and unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits.
Jaquim Juarez fled the scene before police arrived. According to a police spokesperson, he "tossed the gun he used in the assault," which was later recovered by investigators. Nearly a week later, on the night of September 30, Juarez turned himself in to the Bullhead City Police Department. He was arrested on charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct with a deadly weapon, and misconduct involving a weapon. He was also booked into the Mohave County Jail.
To honor a life that touched people across two states, Kenneth's family planned two memorial services. A service was held in San Bernardino, California, on October 22, 2026, to celebrate the life he lived and the love he gave. The following day, an Arizona service was held at Dimond & Sons Silver Bell Chapel in Bullhead City, followed by a celebration of life at a local casino. His family wrote that he "deserved the world," and they would carry him with them always.
As of early October 2026, the investigation was still considered ongoing by the Bullhead City Police Department. Both suspects had been arrested and charged, and the second victim shot during the incident was expected to survive. The case was proceeding through the justice system in Mohave County.
