On Christmas Eve of 2021, a 16-year-old Black male named Kenneth Gant was lured to his death in West Jordan, Utah. Believing he was meeting with two individuals to discuss joining their gang, Gant went to the parking lot of the Gene Fullmer Fitness and Recreation Center. Instead of a meeting, he was shot multiple times and his body was left behind a storage container, where it was discovered on Christmas Day.
The investigation into Gant's death quickly led police to two suspects:
18-year-old Jedediah Zane Newsome and a juvenile accomplice. Investigators discovered correspondence between one of the suspects and Gant on the victim's phone, arranging the meeting for the night of December 24th. The suspects had reportedly become upset with Gant when he did not admit to being in a rival gang. Under the guise of smoking marijuana, they led him to the secluded spot where the shooting occurred.
Following the murder, Newsome and his associate were involved in a separate car theft incident on Christmas Day in West Valley City. Their subsequent arrest in connection with the car theft provided a break in the homicide case. During questioning, Newsome confessed to his involvement in Gant's murder. He told investigators that his accomplice fired the first shots, and then he took the gun and shot Gant two more times as he lay on the ground. Both suspects were also said to have deleted phone and social media correspondence with the victim after the killing.
Jedediah Zane Newsome was arrested and faced charges of criminal homicide, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm. The juvenile suspect was also taken into custody. Newsome eventually pleaded guilty to murder. The second individual involved was also sentenced for his role in the killing. The tragic death of Kenneth Gant, who was remembered by his family for his love of video games and his dogs, was a profound loss to his community.
