Topline: An arrest in Dwight Wells’ fatal shooting comes with a decades-old connection between the activist and the accused, but no established motive.
Published: October 16, 2026 11:34 am ET
Shawn Fletcher
Committed to the craft of journalism and am driven by my desire to inform and inspire.
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Dwight Wells, left, and Jamar Jenkins (via Miami-Dade Corrections / Contributed photo)
MIAMI, FL — A man charged in the fatal shooting of community activist Dwight Wells has been denied bond, more than a year after Wells was killed outside his Liberty City restaurant.
Jamar Jenkins, 39, appeared in court October 15 on a charge of second-degree murder with a weapon, WSVN reported. U.S. Marshals had arrested him three days earlier in a parking lot with guns drawn.
Miami police said Wells was playing dominoes with two people outside his restaurant in the 5000 block of Northwest 17th Avenue on October 10, 2025. A masked gunman in a dark hoodie approached, shot him repeatedly and fled on foot. Wells, 40, died at Jackson Memorial Hospital after Miami Fire Rescue transported him there.
Detectives credited cellphone activity, geolocation data and witnesses with helping secure the arrest. Investigators also said Wells had been convicted in the 2004 murder of Jenkins’ brother. WSVN reported that Jenkins was supposedly unaware of that connection when questioned; the report did not establish revenge as a motive.
Wells’ “Wheels Up, Guns Down” initiative encouraged young people toward peace through cycling. Police Chief Edwin Lopez described his work with law enforcement to reduce violence and strengthen community relationships. Wells’ family spent the following year holding community events and news conferences to keep attention on his killing. Jenkins remains jailed without bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Man Charged in Activist Dwight Wells’ Killing Denied Bond as Police Reveal Earlier Family Connection
An arrest in Dwight Wells’ fatal shooting comes with a decades-old connection between the activist and the accused, but no established motive.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: October 16, 2026 11:34 am ET
Dwight Wells, left, and Jamar Jenkins (via Miami-Dade Corrections / Contributed photo)
MIAMI, FL — A man charged in the fatal shooting of community activist Dwight Wells has been denied bond, more than a year after Wells was killed outside his Liberty City restaurant.
Jamar Jenkins, 39, appeared in court October 15 on a charge of second-degree murder with a weapon, WSVN reported. U.S. Marshals had arrested him three days earlier in a parking lot with guns drawn.
Miami police said Wells was playing dominoes with two people outside his restaurant in the 5000 block of Northwest 17th Avenue on October 10, 2025. A masked gunman in a dark hoodie approached, shot him repeatedly and fled on foot. Wells, 40, died at Jackson Memorial Hospital after Miami Fire Rescue transported him there.
Detectives credited cellphone activity, geolocation data and witnesses with helping secure the arrest. Investigators also said Wells had been convicted in the 2004 murder of Jenkins’ brother. WSVN reported that Jenkins was supposedly unaware of that connection when questioned; the report did not establish revenge as a motive.
Wells’ “Wheels Up, Guns Down” initiative encouraged young people toward peace through cycling. Police Chief Edwin Lopez described his work with law enforcement to reduce violence and strengthen community relationships. Wells’ family spent the following year holding community events and news conferences to keep attention on his killing. Jenkins remains jailed without bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Charged in Activist Dwight Wells’ Killing Denied Bond as Police Reveal Earlier Family Connection
An arrest in Dwight Wells’ fatal shooting comes with a decades-old connection between the activist and the accused, but no established motive.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: October 16, 2026 11:34 am ET
Dwight Wells, left, and Jamar Jenkins (via Miami-Dade Corrections / Contributed photo)
MIAMI, FL — A man charged in the fatal shooting of community activist Dwight Wells has been denied bond, more than a year after Wells was killed outside his Liberty City restaurant.
Jamar Jenkins, 39, appeared in court October 15 on a charge of second-degree murder with a weapon, WSVN reported. U.S. Marshals had arrested him three days earlier in a parking lot with guns drawn.
Miami police said Wells was playing dominoes with two people outside his restaurant in the 5000 block of Northwest 17th Avenue on October 10, 2025. A masked gunman in a dark hoodie approached, shot him repeatedly and fled on foot. Wells, 40, died at Jackson Memorial Hospital after Miami Fire Rescue transported him there.
Detectives credited cellphone activity, geolocation data and witnesses with helping secure the arrest. Investigators also said Wells had been convicted in the 2004 murder of Jenkins’ brother. WSVN reported that Jenkins was supposedly unaware of that connection when questioned; the report did not establish revenge as a motive.
Wells’ “Wheels Up, Guns Down” initiative encouraged young people toward peace through cycling. Police Chief Edwin Lopez described his work with law enforcement to reduce violence and strengthen community relationships. Wells’ family spent the following year holding community events and news conferences to keep attention on his killing. Jenkins remains jailed without bond.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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