In the late summer of 2023, the life of 16-year-old Jakarah Lopez-Moore was tragically cut short in Rochester, New York. The young female vanished on August 27, 2023, after leaving her home on Weld Street. Her family reported her missing two days later, sparking a search that would end in heartbreak. For weeks, her whereabouts remained a mystery, causing growing concern within the community.
The search came to a devastating conclusion on October 14, 2023, when fishermen discovered her
body in a wooded area behind Vanguard Parkway, near the Erie Canal. The discovery confirmed the community's worst fears. An investigation was immediately launched into her death, which was quickly ruled a homicide. It was later revealed that she had been shot in the head the same night she disappeared.
The investigation led authorities to 27-year-old Reign Tapiato, who was identified as the suspect in Jakarah's murder. Police described Tapiato as an acquaintance of the teenager, stating that the act was not random. He was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal's Task Force on State Street in Rochester. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of a loaded handgun.
Tapiato was initially charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In September 2024, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter. According to prosecutors, Tapiato admitted to shooting and killing Jakarah during an argument. On November 4, 2024, Reign Tapiato was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision for the death of Jakarah Lopez-Moore.
