In the winter of 2021, the life of 19-year-old Jayden Mychael Russell was cut tragically short. On Sunday, November 28, in a residence on Tamarack Drive in Rapid City, South Dakota, Jayden was killed. The young man died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The circumstances of Jayden's death unfolded in a bedroom where he and three other young people had gathered. The group was reportedly drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.
At some point, a revolver was handled, leading to the fatal shooting.
In the aftermath of the shooting, an investigation was launched by the Rapid City Police Department. This led to the arrest of 17-year-old James Hight. Initially, Hight faced a charge of second-degree murder in adult court. However, he later entered into a plea deal with the state.
As part of the plea agreement, James Hight pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. He admitted to shooting Jayden Russell. Conflicting accounts emerged from witnesses regarding the handling of the firearm, with one stating that only Hight handled the revolver in a game of Russian roulette, while another claimed both Hight and Russell handled the weapon. Ultimately, Hight was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with 10 years suspended for his role in Jayden's death.
