Joaquin Aj McKinney was 16 when he was killed in a drive-by shooting in Topeka, Kansas, on July 25, 2019. A student at Topeka High and a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, he was known for his interest in creating music.

The Topeka Police Department’s investigation quickly centered on a group of peers. In the days and weeks after the shooting, multiple teenagers were arrested and charged in connection with the killing. The Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office filed charges that included first-degree murder against some of those teens; Jeremiah Bouse and Javen P. Levya were named among those charged. Matthew H. H. Akin was identified as a person of interest and was sought for questioning.

The legal process moved forward as prosecutors prepared their case and the community awaited outcomes. If anyone knew Joaquin, his friends, or where the group was on July 25, 2019, please share what might help clarify what happened.