Aaliyah Latona Wilson, a 22-year-old woman remembered for her vibrant personality, was a beloved daughter, sister, and friend. Born on May 24, 2004, Aaliyah had a knack for making those around her feel comfortable in their own skin. Friends recalled how she encouraged them to embrace their femininity, even teaching one friend how to walk in her first pair of heels.
Her family said she loved the color pink, a detail that would later become a symbol of remembrance for those mourning her.
The evening of Wednesday, October 7, 2026, turned tragic inside an apartment at the Windham Court Apartments near Maple and Tyler in west Wichita, Kansas. Aaliyah and her 25-year-old boyfriend, Xavion Dates, were involved in a heated argument. Aaliyah’s sister, who was also in the apartment, told police that Aaliyah had asked her to step outside. Feeling uneasy, the sister went back inside and saw Dates walking out of the apartment with a gun in his hands. She rushed into the bathroom and made a horrifying discovery: Aaliyah was in the bathtub, bleeding from a gunshot wound to her head.
The sister’s frantic 911 call came in at 6:18 p.m. A neighbor later told investigators he had heard the argument in the hallway and saw Dates grab Aaliyah, pulling her back inside the apartment as she tried to leave. The neighbor heard the yelling fade, followed by a woman's screams and crying, which prompted him to also call 911. When police arrived, they carried Aaliyah into the living room to render first aid, but she was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. Investigators found a black semiautomatic handgun, a spent shell casing, and two cellphones in the bathtub with her. A trail of loose cash, which her sister said belonged to Aaliyah, was scattered from the bathroom, through the apartment, and out into the hallway.
After fleeing the apartment, Dates committed a carjacking nearby on Turquoise Lane. He held a man and his 14-year-old son at gunpoint, forcing them out of their white Toyota RAV4. Unbeknownst to Dates, the vehicle’s cameras were recording. The audio captured a series of desperate and remorseful statements as he drove away. He was heard saying, "I didn't mean to kill her," "I threw my whole life away," and "Why, Aaliyah, why, why didn't you listen to me." He also called his mother, telling her he had "messed up big time." The stolen RAV4 was later found abandoned at an apartment complex at Central and Rock Road.
After a nearly 19-hour search involving the Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol, Xavion Dates turned himself in at Wichita City Hall on the afternoon of October 8. His surrender was reportedly coordinated with his family and community violence interrupters. He was arrested and subsequently charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and theft. A judge set his bond at $10 million.
In the days that followed, friends and family gathered for a vigil outside the apartment where Aaliyah lost her life. Many wore pink and brought pink flowers to honor her memory, sharing stories and shedding tears for a young life cut short by domestic violence. The tragedy occurred during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a fact highlighted by police as they encouraged anyone in a similar situation to seek help.
Xavion Dates made his first court appearance in mid-October and was scheduled for another hearing on October 26, 2026. The case against him is proceeding through the Sedgwick County court system. As of October 2026, he remained in jail while awaiting his next court date. Aaliyah's family held a private funeral service to lay her to rest, forever cherishing the memory of the "girly-girl" who brought so much light into their lives.
