Man who was acquitted of 2015 triple homicide is found fatally shot in a car

Publish date: 2024-05-18

A New York State man who was acquitted of a 2015 triple homicide was fatally shot in a car Saturday evening. 

Authorities said they found Jalen Everett, 24, of Rochester, New York, shot at least once in the torso while he was in a car on Saturday at about 8pm. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to the Democrat & Chronicle

Everett was acquitted during a 2017 retrial for the triple homicide of three men — Jonah Barley, Johnny Johnson and Raekwon Manigault — who were shot in the head during a drive-by shooting at a local Boys & Girls Club in 2015. Four others were injured during the shooting, but they recovered. 

Police said they found Jalen Everett, 24, shot in the torso while in a car on Saturday night The father of two was declared dead at the hospital

Police said they found Jalen Everett, 24, shot in the torso while in a car on Saturday night. The father of two was declared dead at the hospital

The Rochester Police Department said that officers had been in the area on an unrelated call when they heard gunshots and found Everett wounded in the car, Rochester First reported. 

Police said they did not have any shooting suspects in custody yet, but noted that there were witnesses to the crime. 

Everett's shooting occurred the day before what would have been Manigault's 23rd birthday. Manigault was born on May 5, 1996. 

On Saturday night, Lt. Naser Zenelovic of the Major Crimes Unit, told reporters that 'Retaliation certainly could be a motive but we’re looking at that' and noted that 'There could be a number of reasons' why the shooting occurred.

Police were in the neighborhood on a different call when they heard gunshots and later found Everett wounded in the car at this Rochester intersection

Police were in the neighborhood on a different call when they heard gunshots and later found Everett wounded in the car at this Rochester intersection

Everett had been acquitted of a 2015 triple homicide during a 2017 retrial. His death came just one day prior to what would've been the 23rd birthday of one of the homicide victims

Everett had been acquitted of a 2015 triple homicide during a 2017 retrial. His death came just one day prior to what would've been the 23rd birthday of one of the homicide victims

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But, during a press conference Sunday, Rochester Police Interim Chief La’Ron Singletary urged people not to speculate on the motive behind the shooting or carry out any retaliation for Everett's death, remarking that authorities were still investigating.  

Everett was originally found guilty of three counts of second-degree murder, but the verdict was set aside following allegations of juror misconduct involving racial bias

Everett was originally found guilty of three counts of second-degree murder, but the verdict was set aside following allegations of juror misconduct involving racial bias

'What we want to be able to do is focus on the task on hand,' Singletary said, according to Spectrum Local News. He added that 'for those who believe they want to become involved in future acts of retaliatory violence, let us handle it. Let the police department do its job, make the arrests and do so accordingly.'

During Everett's vigil Sunday afternoon, his cousin, Camille McIntyre said that Everett had two sons, one of which is a newborn, remarking that 'He did everything for those boys.'

McIntyre said she suspected that Everett's shooting might have been tied to the 2015 deaths he was acquitted of, but told Spectrum, 'No matter your anger, no matter how you feel or if you think it's karma, we all have some type of karma, nobody deserves to be snatched out like this.'

Everett was among three men who were charged in association with the 2015 Boys & Girls Club deaths. 

Johnny Blackshell, 24, was charged and convicted of the 2015 murders Michael Mathis, 21, was also charged with the 2015 killing, but was acquitted

Johnny Blackshell, 24 (left), and Michael Mathis, 21 (right), were also charged with the 2015 murders. Johnny Blackshell was convicted, but Mathis was acquitted

A picture of the scene in the wake of the 2015 drive-by shooting murders which occurred outside a local Boys & Girls Club in Rochester

A picture of the scene in the wake of the 2015 drive-by shooting murders which occurred outside a local Boys & Girls Club in Rochester

2015 drive-by shooting victim Jonah Barley 2015 drive-by shooting victim Raekwon Manigault 2015 drive-by shooting victim Johnny Ray Johnson

The victims of the 2015 drive-by shooting (L to R): Jonah Barley, Raekwon Manigault, Johnny Ray Johnson. Everett's shooting occurred the evening before what would've been Manigault's 23rd birthday

Although Everett was initially convicted of three counts of second-degree murder, the verdict was set aside following allegations of juror misconduct involving racial bias during deliberation, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. 

Everett was then acquitted during his January 2017 retrial.  

Michael Mathis, 21, was also acquitted of the 2015 murders, but Johnny Blackshell, 24, was convicted and sentenced to life without parole.  

In February, Mathis was stabbed during a fight at a pub in Rochester. Authorities said that he refused to cooperate during the investigation.  

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