In the early hours of May 22, 2023, the life of 24-year-old Nykolett Schroeder was tragically cut short in Kansas City, Missouri. A Black/African American female and a mother to three young children, Schroeder was found with critical gunshot wounds in the breezeway of the Canyon Creek Apartments, located near 93rd Street and Bales Avenue. The call of gunfire had pierced the pre-dawn quiet at approximately 3 a.m., prompting a police response.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered Schroeder, who was then rushed to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries a few hours later.
The investigation into her death painted a harrowing picture of her final moments. According to her mother, Nykolett was homeless at the time of her death, though family members had previously resided in the same apartment complex nearly a year prior. It was in the breezeway of one of these apartment buildings that she was shot in the back. The ensuing police investigation led them to the apartment of 39-year-old Maurice Jacques.
Evidence and witness statements began to weave a narrative of the events that transpired. A bullet hole was discovered in the front door of an apartment directly across from Jacques's. Witnesses informed police that Jacques had been involved in the shooting, alleging that he believed Schroeder was attempting to break into his apartment. A search of Jacques's residence, to which he consented, revealed a spent shell casing. Investigators noted no damage to his front door, leading them to believe the door was open when the fatal shot was fired. Court documents later revealed that Jacques himself had called 911, reporting that someone had tried to break into his apartment and he had shot them.
On June 16, 2023, Maurice Jacques was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Nykolett Schroeder's death. The charges were initially sealed but later made public. The vibrant life of a young mother, remembered by her family for her love of family and friends, as well as her passion for basketball and dance, was abruptly ended, leaving a community to mourn and a family to seek justice.
