jaylen james reeves was born on march 20, 2009.
He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, living with his parents and three younger brothers in the tight-knit suburban community of Ahwatukee.
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins across four different states loved and adored him from the day he was born. He loved his family deeply, and was proud of his multicultural background.
His one true love was his mom: he was a momma’s boy through and through. Whether he was giving her one of his infamous bear hugs or hopping into her bed to watch a movie, he always let her know how much he loved her. If he forgot to say the words before leaving for school, he would come back and shout from the door, “Love you, Mom”.
His passion in life was football. He loved to set a goal and rise to meet it. He spent hours watching film and running exercises with his grandpa after school, and in 2023, after years of hard work, he made the varsity team at Mountain Pointe High School.
Jaylen had too many friends to count, both on the team and off. His friends’ parents often called him a “second son”, and to his friends, he was more like a brother. It’s easy to understand why: he was caring and compassionate, always cracking jokes. A big brother from the age of three, it was his instinct to mentor. If he saw younger kids playing football at the park, he would stop and show them a few moves. He would make them laugh.
Jaylen had dreams of making the NFL. In November 2024, he was getting ready to apply for his first job at a local grocery store.
One of the last photos taken of Jaylen. With his brother Shia, May 2024.
November 16, 2024.
our lives forever changed.
As teens often do, Jaylen snuck out of the house to meet his girlfriend and two friends.
At a nearby park, they ran into a group of their peers.
A fight broke out.
Jaylen was rushed to Chandler Regional Medical Center for emergency surgery. He had been stabbed three times in the back and once in the chest. His left eye was swollen and bruised.
After two days and three brain scans, our family made the devastating decision to say goodbye. We removed Jaylen from life support and elected to donate his organs.
He was 15 years old. His organ donations saved three lives.
Six months after jaylen’s death, detectives concluded their investigation.
As of November 2025, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is refusing to file charges, citing a claim of self-defense.
We believe the results of the investigation warrant a grand jury review. Ultimately, our family’s desire is an arrest and a trial, and that is what we’ll continue to fight for.
Jaylen WAs more than a name on the news.
He was a beloved son, brother, grandchild, nephew, cousin, and friend to many.
We’re fighting not just for Jaylen, but for the families that will come after us.
No family’s grief should be met with silence and dismissal. Help us push our elected officials to do their jobs — to seek justice for victims and their loved ones.
