On the evening of September 11, 2015, at the Fort Riley military installation in Kansas, a tragic event unfolded that cut short the life of 16-year-old Kenyon Givens Jr., a Black/African American male. What initially was reported as a home invasion turned out to be a story fabricated to conceal the truth of a reckless act. Military police responded to a call to find Kenyon with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest.
At the scene, 19-year-old Juwuan D. Jackson, who also resided on the base, told investigators that a masked intruder had forced his way into the home and shot Kenyon. This false narrative prompted a search of the house and the surrounding neighborhood for the fictitious assailant and the weapon, a delay that tragically prevented paramedics from rendering immediate aid to Kenyon. As the investigation progressed, the story began to unravel. Authorities soon learned that there was no intruder.
The truth was that Jackson had been irresponsibly playing with a loaded. 22 caliber handgun. In a moment of recklessness, he spun the revolver's chamber while his finger was on the trigger, causing the weapon to discharge. The single bullet struck Kenyon in the chest, inflicting the fatal injury. Faced with the evidence, Jackson's initial story collapsed, and the true nature of the incident came to light.
Juwuan D. Jackson was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter. He later pleaded guilty to the charge, admitting his reckless actions led to the unintentional death of Kenyon Givens Jr. In January 2017, Jackson was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in the shooting. As part of his sentence, he was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution for funeral expenses.
