Ra’Kwon Leon I’man Backey, an African-American 19-year-old, was remembered by his family as a hardworking, fun-loving, and compassionate young man. A graduate of Biscayne High School, he was known for his dedication, having worked at the same shoe store for many years. His family said he loved playing video games and, most importantly, spending time with his loved ones. He was particularly devoted to his younger brothers, always ensuring they were cared for. His cousin, Kimberly George, described him as "very loving, very compassionate and passionate about whatever he was doing." His mother, Pamela Morton, called him "an outstanding child," while his godmother, Torrie Freeman, said he was respectable, brought up in the church, and not a "street child."
Tragedy struck on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 1, 2017.
At around 1:20 p.m., first responders were called to the 10000 block of Shelby Creek Road South, in a quiet Westside Jacksonville, Florida, neighborhood near the Herlong Recreational Airport. In the driveway of his own home, where his family had lived for about a year, Ra'Kwon was found with multiple gunshot wounds. According to one report, he was sitting in a car when he was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office immediately began an investigation. The neighborhood was considered a low-crime area, leading a crime and safety analyst to speculate that Ra'Kwon may have been targeted, as it did not appear to be a robbery. Investigators planned to examine his social media and cellphone records for clues. The family had surveillance cameras outside their home and provided the footage to the police, hoping it would provide answers. In the days following the shooting, Ra'Kwon's family was grief-stricken and bewildered, stating he had no known enemies and many friends. His mother pleaded, "Nobody deserved to die like that. He was a good child... and they took my child's life away from him."
For five years, the case remained without an arrest, leaving Ra'Kwon's family searching for justice. His cousin made a public plea for information, asking anyone who might know even the smallest detail to come forward. "When is the killing going to stop? We just want the killing to stop, that's all," Kimberly George said. A family friend, Frank Gorman, also urged the community to help, "so that justice can be done in this case."
Then, in October 2022, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced a significant breakthrough. They identified a suspect, Rae'quan Malik Howard, then 26 years old, and issued an arrest warrant for murder in connection with Ra'Kwon's death. At the time the warrant was issued, Howard was already incarcerated in the Duval County jail on unrelated charges. Those charges stemmed from a 2020 double shooting that police described as gang-related, for which he faced two counts of attempted murder.
Following the arrest, the community group MAD DADS of Jacksonville celebrated the development, posting on social media about "justice for the victim." The arrest brought a long-awaited step toward resolution for a family that had endured years of uncertainty. Ra'Kwon's funeral service was held on August 9, 2017, at the St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church, and he was interred at Edgewood Cemetery.
As of October 2022, Rae'quan Malik Howard was formally charged with the murder of Ra'Kwon Backey. The case against him is now proceeding through the court system. In the immediate aftermath of the crime, authorities asked anyone with information to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS to remain anonymous.
