On the evening of March 17, 2023, five-year-old Jayceon Marquell Burton was killed during a drive-by shooting in Tempe, Arizona. The young Black boy, who was just weeks from his sixth birthday, was a passenger in a black Chevy Impala with seven other people, including an 18-year-old and five other minors. The tragic chain of events began when the Impala was stopped at a red light near 48th Street and Broadway Road and a silver Chevy Cruz pulled up next to it.
After a passenger in the Impala recognized someone in the adjacent vehicle, their driver proceeded as soon as the light turned green.
The Cruz followed the Impala, and as they neared the Double Butte Cemetery, a hail of gunfire erupted from the pursuing car. A total of 24 rounds were fired from three different guns into the Impala. Jayceon was fatally wounded in the attack. A 17-year-old and an 8-year-old who were also in the car were wounded but survived their injuries.
The Tempe Police Department launched an intensive investigation, relying on tips and videos from the community to identify the perpetrators. Their efforts led to the arrests of three suspects: 30-year-old Demarcus Frasier and two teenage brothers, 16-year-old Freddy Patterson and 17-year-old Charles Adam. It was later reported that after the shooting, the suspects returned to the scene to film a video.
The two teenagers were charged as adults for their roles in the attack. All three individuals initially faced multiple serious charges, including first-degree murder and six counts of aggravated assault. By June 2023, it was reported that Frasier, Patterson, and Adam had all been convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the shooting that took Jayceon’s life.
