Abby Cambiano
Northeast News

A second teen has been charged in the April 16 murder of Jesus Reyes, 15, and shooting of another victim, 16.

Xavier I. Jones, 16, faces charges of 2nd Degree Murder, 1st Degree Assault, 1st Degree Robbery, and three counts of Armed Criminal Action, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Reyes and another victim, who remains anonymous due to age, were shot inside a vehicle near 16th Terrace and Bennington. Reyes was pronounced dead when the police were called to the area of Truman and Hardesty, where the driver fled following the shootings.

According to the Prosecutor’s office, the non-fatal shooting victim told police that the shooter was with Jones, who passed the gun, a Glock 27, to the shooter over the hood of the car just before he shot them. The victim said that he and Reyes attempted to buy a gun, but were shot after handing over their money.

Police arrested two suspects in a home nearby, and after obtaining a search warrant, found several guns, including a Glock 27, and what appeared to be narcotics. While being held for interrogation, Rodriguez was overheard saying to the Jones that he shot the victims because he felt threatened. Jones is being held on a bond of $500,000 cash.

In August, Andrew Rodriguez, 17, was charged with 2nd Degree Murder in the shooting death of Reyes, as well as three counts of Armed Criminal Action, one count of 1st Degree Robbery, and one count of 1st Degree Assault.

According to the charging documents, the victims knew Rodriguez from school and set up the gun purchase via Facebook. Jones in Rodriguez’s cousin. Jones initially denied being with Rodriguez at the time of the homicide and shooting.

At this time, there is not a set court date for Rodriguez nor Jones.

The Northeast News published an initial report on the fatal shooting on April 20, 2018 and a follow-up when Rodriguez was charged on August 1, 2018.