Teen pleads guilty to murdering former friend outside Wichita smoke shop
A Wichita teen has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges in a fatal shooting at a north-side smoke shop that also involved his father.
Tyree Jackson Jr., 19, entered the plea Tuesday instead of proceeding with a jury trial. He is scheduled for sentencing on April 16 on three counts: second-degree reckless murder, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to his plea agreement. Jackson was 17 when he fatally shot 20-year-old Jaden C. Wilson at M&M Smoke Shop, 2211 N. Grove, around 5:30 p.m. on March 21, 2024. But prosecutors sought successfully to try him as an adult.
Jackson’s father, Tyree Jackson Sr., is serving a more than 12-year sentence in the case.
Wilson was killed while sitting in his girlfriend’s car outside the business after he and others went there to shop. Court records say the Jacksons pulled up in a minivan and the younger Jackson got out with a gun, shouted and fired repeatedly through the windshield and passenger door of the car at his former friend before running off. His grandmother later took him to the jail to turn himself in.
Surveillance video also appeared to show the elder Jackson with a gun encouraging his son to confront Wilson over a past robbery — although he claimed he only had a cellphone and that the shooting didn’t start until after Wilson reached for something, court records say.
Wilson died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, including to his left shoulder, neck, left side and right wrist.
Jackson previously pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and the weapons charges.
