On the evening of May 12, 2020, a young Black/African American man named Joheem Meredith, aged 18, was fatally shot in Topeka, Kansas. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the White Lakes Plaza Apartments. Shortly after 9:30 p.m., Meredith was transported to a local hospital with gunshot wounds, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. At the time of his death, Meredith was a senior at Topeka West High School, and his passing marked the city's ninth homicide of the year.
The
investigation into the shooting led to the identification of two suspects. Tyron Michael and Daravian Ryce were subsequently arrested and faced a series of serious charges in connection with Meredith's death. The Shawnee County District Attorney announced that both men were charged with first-degree murder, intentional second-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and several other felonies.
The charges against Michael and Ryce also included aggravated assault, aggravated burglary of a vehicle, and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition to these, Tyron Michael faced charges for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Following their arrest, both suspects were held on a $1,000,000 bond as the legal proceedings against them commenced.
