John Reed

In the pre-dawn hours of January 20, 2023, a brief argument in downtown San Diego turned fatal, ending the life of John Reed, a 29-year-old male resident of the city. Investigators learned that Reed had gotten into a verbal confrontation with a group of people near the 600 block of L Street. During the exchange, one of the men in the group produced a handgun and shot Reed at least once in his upper body. At approximately 4:25 a.m., San Diego Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire and found Reed lying on the sidewalk in the 300 block of Seventh Avenue. Paramedics and officers attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Immediately after the shooting, the group of suspects fled. Some left in a white Jeep SUV, while others ran into a nearby multi-story parking garage. Officers quickly stopped a vehicle matching the Jeep’s description and detained two women and a man. Another man on foot, possibly connected to the group, was also detained. After questioning, all four individuals were released. The police department’s SWAT unit was deployed to search the parking garage, but after several hours, they determined the suspects were no longer inside and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Through their investigation, detectives identified two men involved in the incident. The day after the shooting, on January 21, 2023, officers arrested 20-year-old Dajon Shingleton at a residence in Spring Valley. He surrendered without incident and was booked into the San Diego County Jail on one count of murder. A week later, on January 28, police arrested a second suspect, 20-year-old Jaelen Dower, for his role in the confrontation. Dower was booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon involving a firearm and other firearms-related offenses.

Dajon Shingleton was initially charged with murder but was ultimately convicted by a San Diego jury of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, along with a gun allegation. During the sentencing hearing, Shingleton’s defense attorney argued that Reed had been aggressive and confrontational, and that Shingleton was unaware of what was in Reed’s backpack. The judge acknowledged that Reed had "engaged in assaultive conduct" toward Shingleton and his group but stated that the men were far enough apart that Reed "did not pose an ongoing threat."

On May 30, 2025, Dajon Shingleton, then 22 years old, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for the killing of John Reed.