On a Wednesday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the life of 17-year-old DaQwan Tremayne Jones-Morris was tragically cut short. On November 6, 2019, inside a home on Annapolis Street, the promising high school senior was spending time with two younger friends, ages 15 and 16. As Jones-Morris was engrossed in a game of "Madden," his companions began playing with a handgun. The 16-year-old had reportedly stolen the weapon from a vehicle just a week prior.
The gun was passed between the two younger teens, who racked the slide and pointed its laser sight.
The 15-year-old, later telling police he was unaware the gun was loaded, pointed the weapon and pulled the trigger. Jones-Morris was struck in the torso by the gunfire. In the immediate panic, the 15-year-old called 911 while the 16-year-old attempted to apply pressure to the wounds to stop the bleeding. Paramedics arrived at the home around 3:30 p.m., but it was too late; DaQwan Jones-Morris was pronounced dead at the scene. His death marked the city's 28th homicide of the year.
The aftermath of the shooting sent shockwaves through the community. Both the 15-year-old and 16-year-old males were arrested and subsequently charged with second-degree manslaughter. The senseless loss was deeply felt at Henry Sibley High School, where Jones-Morris was a beloved senior. Known by the nickname "Qwanny," he was a gifted athlete, serving as the co-captain of the football team and a key player on the basketball team. Friends and family remembered his joyful spirit, contagious personality, and his love for making people laugh. He was an active member of his church community, singing in the youth choir, and was in the process of planning for college.
The community mourned the loss of a young man known for his big heart and vitality. His school provided counselors for grieving students and held vigils in his honor. In the wake of his death, his mother, Monica Jones, channeled her grief into creating a positive legacy for her son. A scholarship was established in Da'Qwan's name at his high school to support students of color who demonstrated community involvement and a commitment to preventing gun violence, ensuring that his memory would endure and continue to make a positive impact.
