An arrest has been made in the shooting death of Grant Union High School football player Jaulon "JJ" Clavo. Police say the suspect is 16-year-old Keymontae Lindsey. He was arrested Thursday morning.
Clavo was in a car with teammates on November 13 when shots were fired. Clavo was killed and another passenger, Malik Johnson, was injured. The players were returning to the high school for a game later that Friday night.
Lindsey was taken into custody the day after Clavo's death because a weapon was found in his car during a traffic stop. He was initially booked into juvenile hall on a weapons charge. An investigation found Lindsey's gun was linked to Clavo's shooting, according to Sacramento police, and Thursday morning he was booked into the main jail.
Lindsey has gang affiliations, however police say Clavo did not. They also believe Clavo was not the target.
Lindsey will be tried as an adult on charges of homicide, attempted homicide, shoot an occupied car and a gang enhancement.
The investigation is ongoing, and Sacramento Police Chief Sam Somers said they expect more arrests will be made.
Clavo's mother, Dr. Nicole Clavo, along with the Sacramento Police Chief and Del Paso Height community leaders say this new development is a turning point.
Dr. Clavo described her emotions upon hearing the arrest as "all over the place" and a "sigh of relief." But she also felt sadness and empathy for another family, who has now lost their son.
"Although [his family will] be able to visit, make phone calls, and send letters, [they] won't be able to share in those plans you may have for your children and grandchildren in the future," said Dr. Clavo. "She will miss out on some of the things I will miss out on."
While these last three months have been some of her darkest times, Dr. Clavo says her community has kept her strong.
"They have been such a wealth of support. Without them, I don't think I would've been able to maintain the strength I've been able to maintain," said Dr. Clavo.
Derrell Roberts is a co-founder of the Roberts Family Development Center. This community group along with other organizations raised $40,000 for a reward fun and helped get three billboards up throughout the area.
"[That big of an amount] is unheard of in our community. JJ's case reminded us that we have a lot of work still to do. I think it's important that within our community, we recognize things we can do better," said Roberts. "Nobody should have to worry about whether their child comes back home or not...There's things we have to do differently. Moving forward...it's because of JJ's death, we look at that as a milestone for us."
Roberts said the announcement today is a renewed push for change in this community.
"There's not a question that our community has stepped up and said enough's enough. If you do wrong in our neighborhood...and hurt our children, we are going to report you," said Roberts. So it's no longer acceptable in our community and our neighborhoods to allow those things to occur. And that's the way we have to approach things."
Dr. Clavo said she has always worked with youth and will continue that fight, in honor of her son and to prevent further tragedies like this from happening.
Twin Rivers Superintendent Dr. Steven Martinez released a statement Thursday evening regarding the arrest.
Martinez said, in part, "We are relieved that someone has been arrested for this senseless tragedy. Our grief since that horrendous day has extended well beyond Twin Rivers Unified School District, and we appreciate the outpouring of love and support from around the region for the Clavo family and all of us in Twin Rivers."