Jaylon McKenzie was 14 when he was killed by a stray bullet on May 4, 2019, in Venice, Illinois. A promising football prospect who had drawn scholarship interest from the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois and was featured in Sports Illustrated, Jaylon was attending a post-prom party when a fight broke out; he was struck while trying to leave and later died of his injuries.

Three people were charged in connection with the shooting. Maurice Dickerson, 19 at the time, was charged with aggravated discharge of a weapon and later pleaded guilty on November 28, 2022. Larrion Shelby, also 19 at the time, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and received two years of probation. Jaylen M. Staten, 20 at the time of his charge, faced multiple counts including aggravated discharge of a firearm, reckless discharge, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Jaylon’s mother, Sukeena Gunner, has publicly expressed disappointment with the legal outcomes and the length of the court process. She founded the Jaylon 6 McKenzie-Rising Star Foundation to support young athletes. If anyone knew Jaylon or was at the party that night, please share information that could help piece together what happened.