Jaden Diaz Lee Nelson, a 19-year-old Black / African American male, was killed in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on May 19, 2020. The Allen County Coroner's Office determined that Nelson died from a gunshot wound to the torso and ruled his death a homicide. The shooting occurred in the afternoon, around 4:10 p.m., near the intersection of East Maple Grove Avenue and Avondale Drive.
The incident that led to Nelson's death stemmed from a planned drug transaction that turned into a robbery.
Nelson had arranged to sell marijuana to Ronnie Miles Jr. and Xavier Walker. During the course of the transaction, a struggle began, and as Nelson tried to drive away, he was shot in the torso by Miles. Even after being shot, Nelson was able to drive to a nearby gas station. Police and medics found him there and transported him to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
An investigation into the shooting led to the arrests of both Ronnie Miles Jr. and 16-year-old Xavier Walker. Miles was charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and criminal recklessness. Walker faced charges of felony murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and criminal recklessness. Court documents revealed that Walker had planned the robbery. In March 2022, a jury found Xavier Walker guilty of felony murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and criminal recklessness. The trial proceedings established that the robbery was premeditated and that Miles was the individual who shot Nelson.
