In the spring of 2017, the life of a promising young man, Akeim Kenza Hill, was tragically cut short. A 17-year-old male student at Davenport North High School, Hill was known for his talents in football, baseball, and basketball, and he dreamed of playing football for Michigan State University. He was a familiar and welcome face at the local YMCA, and he enjoyed spending his free time, like many his age, playing video games.
On the evening of Friday, May 12, 2017, in Davenport, Iowa, an
act of gun violence claimed Akeim's life. Police responded to a call about a shooting near the intersection of Kirkwood Boulevard and Bridge Avenue. There, they found Akeim with a gunshot wound. He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation that followed moved swiftly. The day after Akeim's death, Davenport police arrested 17-year-old James Bailey Jr. He was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery. The court documents revealed that the incident occurred inside a parked vehicle where Bailey and another individual met with Akeim. A physical altercation broke out, during which Akeim was robbed and shot twice.
A few days later, a second teenager, 16-year-old Joseph Howard-Rogers Jr., was also taken into custody. He faced the same serious charges of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery in connection with Akeim's death. Both teenagers were held in the Scott County Jail. The loss of Akeim Hill was deeply felt by his family, friends, and the wider Davenport community, a life full of potential ended far too soon.
