On a Sunday morning in Topeka, Kansas, a violent encounter left one man dead and another seriously wounded. Ricky R. Washington Jr., a 45-year-old male, was killed on November 10, 2024, in what became the city’s 17th homicide investigation of the year. The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. in the 1200 block of S.W. Huntoon Street. When first responders arrived, they found two people with life-threatening injuries. Medical personnel pronounced Washington deceased at the scene.
The second victim was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition and ultimately survived.
The Topeka Police Department’s investigation quickly led to the arrests of two brothers a few days after the shooting. Authorities took Du’Jontez Jaimandre Jerome Owens, 24, and Demari D. Owens, who was 18 at the time, into custody in connection with the homicide. Both men were formally charged and faced separate trials for their roles in the death of Ricky Washington.
In June 2026, Demari D. Owens stood trial before a Shawnee County jury. On June 26, after a trial that began four days earlier, the jury found him guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling. The following month, in July 2026, a separate jury convicted his brother, Du’Jontez Owens, of first-degree murder and several other related charges.
On August 12, 2026, Demari D. Owens was sentenced for his crimes. A judge ordered him to serve a "Hard 50" life sentence, meaning he must spend a mandatory minimum of 50 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. During the sentencing, the Shawnee County District Attorney stated, “Ricky Washington lost his life because Demari Owens chose violence. Another person nearly lost theirs.”
As of August 2026, Demari Owens was beginning his life sentence. His brother, Du’Jontez Owens, was awaiting his own sentencing, which was scheduled to take place on October 28, 2026.
