In the early evening of December 29, 2020, Jaden Britto-White, an 18-year-old Black / African American male from Malden, Massachusetts, was fatally shot. The incident occurred at approximately 7:03 p.m. on Bowdoin Street, where Britto-White was standing outside of his apartment building. He was ambushed by two individuals who approached him and opened fire, inflicting multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency services transported him to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At the time of his death, Britto-White had recently graduated from Malden High School and was remembered by loved ones for his kind heart and infectious laugh.
The investigation into the homicide was conducted by the Malden Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office. Investigators utilized surveillance footage from the area which captured a Chevrolet Malibu with a distinct paint color near the scene of the shooting. This vehicle was later located and seized while being driven by 20-year-old Sifeddine Rogadi of Everett. A subsequent search of the car revealed a loaded 9mm handgun, consistent with the type of weapon used in the shooting. The firearm lacked a serial number, leading investigators to believe it may have been a "ghost gun," which is an untraceable, often self-assembled weapon.
On January 12, 2021, Sifeddine Rogadi was arrested in Cambridge without incident by a team of officers from the Massachusetts State Police, Cambridge Police, and Malden Police. He was charged with murder, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery by discharge of a firearm, possession of a large capacity firearm, and possession of ammunition. While one suspect was apprehended, the investigation remains active and ongoing as authorities continue to work towards identifying the second individual involved in the fatal shooting. The motive for the attack has not been publicly disclosed. In the wake of his death, Britto-White's family established the Jaden Brito-White Foundation to honor his memory and provide scholarships to local high school students.
