In the early evening of September 8, 2021, a tragic event unfolded on the streets of Wichita, Kansas, claiming the life of 23-year-old Jacquez Carter, a Black male. Carter was driving his classic Chevy Monte Carlo eastbound on Harry Street when the incident, initially reported as a traffic accident, took a fatal turn. Around 5:30 p.m., near the intersection with Washington, first responders arrived at the scene of a vehicle that had struck a utility pole.
Inside the wrecked car, they discovered Carter suffering from several gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into what appeared to be a simple car crash quickly evolved into a homicide investigation. Witnesses revealed that while Carter was stopped at a red light at the Topeka intersection, a white SUV pulled up alongside his vehicle in the oncoming lanes. A passenger in the SUV then fired multiple shots, striking both Carter and his car. After being shot, Carter's car continued to travel eastbound before he lost control and crashed into a light pole and a utility pole at Harry and Meade. The white SUV fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Police indicated that the shooting was not a random act of violence, suggesting there had been some form of altercation leading up to the fatal encounter, though the specifics of the dispute were not immediately released.
Through diligent police work, which involved interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage, investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle. This led to the arrest of 21-year-old Jesus Manzano-Legarda. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in connection with Jacquez Carter's death. Following a trial, Manzano-Legarda was found guilty of first-degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm. For his role in the drive-by shooting, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 25 years for the murder charge, and an additional 13 months for the firearm charge.
