June 5th 2018 was a day of celebration for many reasons for a group of adolescent men that held a bond as brothers, or at least, that’s what it was meant to be before bloodshed and death became the chilling end result. Kenyata Bullard also known as the Jacksonville popular rapper Yungeen Ace suggested to his brothers they should go out to a restaurant to have a good evening given there were so many positive things happening within their group https://youtu.be/wLnTfFrtyk4?si=aU4GJYugozScM7Z- (3:23-3:30).
His blood brother Trevon Bullard aka Quan Quan aka 2x had graduated a week prior from Ridgeview High School in Clay County,
https://www.news4jax.com/news/2018/06/07/police-name-3-killed-by-gunfire-on-town-center-parkway
and his best friend who he calls his brother Royale D’Von Smith Jr. aka 23 was celebrating his birthday that day.
His last friend who was also close like a brother was named Jercoby Da’Shad Groover aka 4.
Normally, this public outing would not be something they would partake in given the environment some of them grew up in. Those whose lifestyles were attached to what some may consider harmful or violent given the rivals and feuds they were involved in, knew the dangers, but it was a special occasion and Yungeen Ace, wanted to do something good with his brothers to celebrate their achievements https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=xosbhNU7ZfKj8Ve6 (1:31-2:07).
So it was decided. Everyone got dressed and made their way to the Wasabi Japanese Restaurant in Jacksonville Florida https://youtu.be/mnZdj-VPnic?si=hzexs-f6yN9JOKlH (2:49-2:53).
Yungeen Ace would document the joyous occasion via his Instagram with pictures and videos and them together on their way to have a good time https://www.reddit.com/r/DuvalCounty/comments/mvhkyq/crazy_ace_didnt_know_his_whole_life_was_finna/ (0:00-0:12).
Yungeen Ace, Quan Quan, 23, and 4 would arrive in the parking lot accompanied by other friends and family, and it was all smiles upon everyone’s faces https://www.reddit.com/r/DuvalCounty/comments/mvhkyq/crazy_ace_didnt_know_his_whole_life_was_finna/ (0:14-0:22).
From the evening right into the nighttime, it was nothing but positive energy and good company. Everyone was partaking in the meal and beverages and simply having a grand time. From mothers to sisters, it was a memory that everyone was going to remember https://youtu.be/uxAq2TpgQEo?si=3kjZFg2cmP6nfTI1 (3:38-3:51) Little did they know, that memory would soon change from one of happiness, to one of misery and grief as assailants were lying in wait monitoring their movements https://youtu.be/mnZdj-VPnic?si=aYPrsadMTEYPzt3t (3:40-3:48).
Yungeen Ace and his brothers were caught in a moment of carefree mentality, forgetting that the life that some of them lived didn’t allow them to casually be in the open unaware of their surroundings, and it would cost them dearly https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=_6PRu_WcanQe49mQ (2:10-2:31).
The assailants could have exposed themselves right then and there, but they were patient, strategic, focused on just four targets, Yungeen Ace and his brothers Quan Quan, 23, and 4. They had no qualms with any other innocent relatives and friends that were present. The time was after 10:30 pm, the group got into their respective vehicles and made their departure. Yungeen Ace and his brothers were driving in Towards Town Center Parkway near Interstate 295.
While in the vehicle, they got into a brotherly verbal scuffle about where they were headed next. Yungeen Ace was trying to call his girlfriend as she was eating out close to where they were, but his brothers wanted to continue their celebratory escapades and proceed to meet some female friends https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=o1CXiURUpB3TTnmD (2:47-3:02).
Approximately 20-30 seconds later at around 10:53pm, their car comes to a halt at a red light at the traffic light, totally unaware the next couple seconds will erupt into pure chaos https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=hF5KjVFRxsvHlBTW (2:41-2:46).
Yungeen Ace reaches for his phone and just as he’s about to dial his girlfriend, a bullet pierces through his hands, knocking the phone from his palm https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=hF5KjVFRxsvHlBTW (3:04-3:15).
Beside their vehicle was another car firing a constant stream of bullets tearing holes through metal and seats and even worse, through the flesh of every passenger inside. Yungeen Ace, realizing what was happening quickly reacted by reaching across from the passenger seat where he was seated in order to try and shield his brother 23 from the onslaught of bullets. All this time, Ace is still being wounded by bullets firing into their vehicle, but trying to save the life of his brother, he perseveres even through the attack https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=Da0g9JzhlQU0pWII (3:16-3:37).
Ace would finally get the door opened and both of them would fall out. 23 however after also being injured was unable to move as his body was in a state of shock and frozen up. At that point, Yungeen Ace crawled along the ground, and upon turning back to check on everyone he saw the bullet-ridden state of the vehicle after the attack https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=jKZkauFs5JmS7ihl (3:38-3:51).
He could hear what sounded like the final wheezing breath of Quan Quan while 23 was reaching out his hands calling for him on the ground https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=K7xBEfMZKPAKfY1f (4:58-5:29).
Time was of the essence; everyone was in a critical state. Yungeen Ace was shot 8 times,
23 was shot about 5 times, Quan Quan was hit 3 times with one being a bullet to his head, and 4 was hit approximately 12 times https://youtu.be/wLnTfFrtyk4?si=xlNNdb1Jnrp5yevz (4:27-5:00).
Bleeding out on the concrete, Yungeen Ace managed to call his girlfriend. With her understanding the seriousness of the situation, she arrived even before the ambulance to see spectators around with cell phones recording rather than calling for help or providing assistance https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=3Dv_eXnL0Z-qlmnv (3:57-4:22) She would immediately get into action checking on everyone and try to wrap up the wounds https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=3Dv_eXnL0Z-qlmnv (5:30-5:43).
The ambulance would arrive to meet only two persons still alive. Yungeen Ace and 23. 23 would be transported first to the hospital followed by Yungeen Ace as only one ambulance truck came to their aid https://youtu.be/yubUM59r4Hc?si=VABAVF9CVNaaruj8 (3:11-3:16) https://youtu.be/GcxE3ZjjqF8?si=3Dv_eXnL0Z-qlmnv (5:45-6:03).
It was a race against the clock to save their lives. Sadly 23 succumbed to his injuries while Yungeen Ace managed to pull through. His three brothers Quan Quan, 23, and 4 all passed away in the attack leaving him as the lone survivor https://youtu.be/MDMh9GdgEtI?si=F-GOg7AXsVan1Aye (1:21-1:44).
Confined to a hospital bed while receiving treatment, Youngeen Ace could only wallow in grief as he recounts the final chilling moments of his brothers https://youtu.be/126FymSSpSI?si=ZJl25ccywzTlwHy3 (0:46-1:08) Bandaged up and beginning the painful physical and mental process to recovery, all he could do was bear the weight of his brothers’ deaths.
Yungeen Ace grew up with Quan Quan, 23, and 4 from even as kids and they all looked up to him. Questioning why he wasn’t taken with them, he was now alive and haunted by feeling guilty that he couldn’t protect his brothers while also having to deal with the weight of facing their parents and loved ones https://youtu.be/yubUM59r4Hc?si=vjnS4lSCjSsKY3G7 (3:45-4:32).
Investigators would canvas the crime scene looking for clues and witnesses that may be able to lead them to the killer or killers.
Information would later allege that two of the four victims that were shot, Yungeen Ace and his brother Quan Quan were members of a gang and that the attack was gang-related https://youtu.be/pewK0VhWOGU?si=q7wyi8jliBdbtYtO (0:00-0:18) The gang feud was reported to be between two rival fractions as per police reports.
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jso-investigating-death-near-st-johns-town-center/763729700
These two gang fractions would be tied to one that Yungeen Ace
allegedly is the face of. It is referred to as ATK which stands for ‘Ace To Kill’ or ‘Aim To Kill’, while the other named KTA aka ‘Kill Them All’ is allegedly championed by another popular Jacksonville rapper by the name of Julio Foolio https://youtu.be/9XrCQ-HfmIM?si=_i8BfoV7XVZiRl_v (1:46-2:03)
Law enforcement has the gangs listed as being responsible for crimes and bloodshed in the city and they use their music to brag and disrespect their rivals about those whose lives they stole https://youtu.be/9XrCQ-HfmIM?si=O0D3fCkdJgjEUBd3 (0:33-1:10) https://youtu.be/9XrCQ-HfmIM?si=O0D3fCkdJgjEUBd3 (3:54-4:17) https://youtu.be/9XrCQ-HfmIM?si=O0D3fCkdJgjEUBd3 (4:47-5:00)
Yungeen Ace and Julio Foolio haven’t shied away from making their grievances with each other known, publicly posting videos taunting and disrespecting each other https://youtu.be/CEr29q9xN1E?si=srTn8EQxlvPsqlHa (2:48-2:58) When Yungeen Ace’s brothers were murdered, Julio Foolio was one of his rivals that made a video disrespecting and laughing at their deaths https://youtu.be/PdjBM9qpfaA?si=Iq1DEgubd1Be1ltW .
He would continue his assault by posting pictures online speaking on Yungeen Ace’s brother’s deaths and went as far as posting a picture at 23’s gravesite with his affiliates.
Yungeen Ace’s brothers are just another statistic in the long line of youths losing their lives to the cycle of generational violence that just continues to pass on from one era to the next. Ace would memorialize his brothers through tattoos of their faces along his abdomen
and he would make a vow to keep their names alive through his music and use the trauma of their passing to save others through his songs like “Pain” https://youtu.be/yubUM59r4Hc?si=3_3x-6DDK9ZrXxAt (4:38-5:00) https://youtu.be/TLIgFxNY61E (0:44-1:00).
What will it take for the murders to end and peace to reign? These 3 young men were all talented athletes in the field of football and could have had a prosperous career in the sport, but now that future is nothing but a dream. Rest in Peace Quan Quan, 23, and 4 https://youtu.be/8OmeNPCJfjI?si=UZVTAKwFzciOk-nk (0:00-0:24).
Quan Quan
