In the summer of 2021, a young Black / African American man's life was tragically cut short in Wichita, Kansas. Nineteen-year-old Jyrez Ricks was at an apartment in the 500 block of North Nims on the evening of July 20th with a group of friends. Remembered as a goofy and loving individual who was never without a backpack full of snacks, his personality brought a unique light to those who knew him.
His daily diet was said to consist of simple comforts like hamburger helper, rice-a-roni, eggs, and beef jerky.
That evening, inside the apartment, a friend, 21-year-old Jordan Williams, was handling a handgun. In a devastating turn of events, the firearm accidentally discharged, and the single shot struck Jyrez. The lighthearted gathering of friends was shattered in an instant, replaced by confusion and tragedy. It is believed that after being shot, Jyrez made his way outside to the parking lot of the Villa Del Mar Apartments.
When police responded to a shooting call at the apartment complex around 8 p.m., they found Jyrez in the parking lot. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The investigation that followed determined that the shooting was accidental. Jordan Williams was arrested at the scene and later booked on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. The case was then set to be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office to determine what, if any, formal criminal charges would be pursued.
