Jakela R. Foster

Do you know who murdered Jakela, Latecia and Cameron?
Jakela Rochelle Foster was a young mother from Omaha, Nebraska, whose family said her greatest and proudest accomplishment was her one-year-old son, Jay’Ceon. A 19-year-old Black female, Jakela was born and raised in Omaha, graduating from Northwest High School in 2013 where she played basketball, volleyball, and ran track. She worked as a customer service representative and was remembered for a smile that could light up a room. Her older brother, DeSean Young, said she had his heart from the day she came home from the hospital.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, January 24, 2015, Jakela was at a house party in an unoccupied home near 34th and Parker Streets. As many as 50 people were in and around the small house when multiple shooters opened fire. At 1:44 a.m., Omaha Police officers were dispatched to the scene for a shooting.

Arriving officers discovered a chaotic scene with a total of eight victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Jakela Foster and another woman, 24-year-old Latecia Fox, were declared deceased at the scene. A third victim, 26-year-old Cameron Harris, was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. Five other people were also hospitalized, two of them in serious condition.

At a news conference later that day, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer stated that investigators believed the shooting was gang-related. He said it was unclear whether any of the victims were intended targets or bystanders who were caught in the crossfire. The chief noted that the investigation was immediately challenged because the vast majority of witnesses at the scene refused to cooperate with police. He publicly pleaded for people to come forward, acknowledging their fear but asking them to contact law enforcement for the sake of the community.

As of January 2015, no arrests had been made in the triple homicide. The case remains unsolved. Anyone with information is asked to call or message the Omaha Police Cold Case Homicide Unit at 402-444-5656 or [email protected]. Those who wish to remain anonymous and be eligible for a $25,000 reward must contact Omaha Crime Stoppers directly at 402-444-STOP or through the P3 Tips mobile app.