An 18-year-old Black / African American male named JaQualen Prïnce Dupree was fatally shot on the afternoon of October 2, 2023, in downtown Wichita, Kansas. On that day, JaQualen left his home with the intention of picking up his younger brothers from school. Before he could reach them, he agreed to give a ride to a group of acquaintances. Among them was his longtime friend, 18-year-old Tyshon Eugene Jacques, who had been a recent guest in JaQualen's home.
While JaQualen was driving his Dodge Charger, he was shot.
The shooting occurred at approximately 3:16 p.m. in the 400 block of North Broadway, near the Robert D. Love Downtown YMCA. A witness reported seeing a slow-moving vehicle strike a pole, followed by several individuals fleeing the car in different directions. When first responders arrived, they discovered JaQualen alone and unconscious in the driver's seat, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Two passersby had stopped to render aid before emergency services arrived, using a piece of clothing to apply pressure to his wound and providing oxygen from the nearby YMCA.
The investigation into JaQualen's death led to the swift identification and apprehension of a suspect. Tyshon Eugene Jacques was arrested in the 500 block of South Broadway on suspicion of second-degree murder. All five individuals who fled the vehicle were contacted by police. Initially, Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan described the shooting as a "targeted attack." However, during legal proceedings, Jacques claimed the shooting was unintentional, stating that a gun he was handling in the backseat of the car accidentally discharged.
In January, Tyshon Jacques pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree reckless murder and one count of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. At the time of the shooting, he was on probation for a previous burglary. In March 2024, a Sedgwick County District Judge sentenced Jacques to more than 13 and a half years in prison. During the sentencing, a letter from Jacques was read in which he expressed remorse and wished he could take the day back. JaQualen's mother, Kenyette Miles, spoke in court about the profound loss of her son, whom she described as a caring and intelligent aspiring artist who had a bright future.
