Hayes, Richardson Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in Drive-by Shooting of 22-Month-Old Aiden McClendon

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Henry Lee Hayes IV and Kquame Richardson were found guilty by a jury as criminal gang members of First-Degree Murder, Two Counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, and Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle. Hayes and Richardson now face a maximum sentence of Life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled to be set by the Honorable Steven Whittington the week of Aug. 6.

Just after 6 p.m. Jan. 29, 2016, police responded to a home on Spearing Street and UF Health Jacksonville relating to shots being fired. Upon arrival at UF Health, law enforcement learned Tomeshia Brown and her grandmother, Mary Thomas, had transported 22-month-old Aiden McClendon to the hospital after he was injured in a drive-by shooting on Spearing Street. Aiden, Brown’s son, died hours later from the gunshots — he was strapped into his car seat at the time of the shooting.

An extensive investigation led law enforcement to arrest Hayes and Richardson for the shooting. The two are part of a criminal street gang that had been engaged in an ongoing violent dispute with another street gang. Their intended target was a member of their rival gang, not Aiden, his mother, or his great-grandmother who was being dropped off at her Spearing Street home.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney London Kite, Chief Assistant L.E. Hutton, and Assistant State Attorney Brooke Gasson.