In the summer of 2020, a quiet street in Topeka, Kansas, became the scene of a tragedy that left a family grieving and a community searching for answers. On the evening of July 13th, police were dispatched to a home in the 1100 block of S.W. Clay, where they discovered the body of 66-year-old Harry J. Jenkins, a Black/African American male. He had been fatally shot.
Another individual at the residence was also found with injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
The death of Harry J. Jenkins was part of a particularly violent period in Topeka, as his was one of three fatal shootings that occurred within a six-hour timeframe in the city. The Topeka Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into his death, seeking to piece together the events that led to the shooting.
Despite the ongoing investigation, there has been little public information about any potential motive or persons of interest. As of the most recent reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Harry J. Jenkins, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case remains an open and active investigation, leaving his loved ones and the wider community without a sense of closure. Authorities have continued to urge anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward and contact the Topeka Police Department or Shawnee County Crime Stoppers.
