Jaden Detant stands on FAMU’s campus. (Michelle Felix)
Jan. 12, 2026, marks one year since the death of Jaden Detant, a Miami native and a junior at Florida A&M University.
Detant was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest inside his off-campus apartment. One year later, his family says they are left with more questions than answers.
Since his death, the Detant family has continued to seek justice, but they say one of their biggest frustrations is the lack of communication from investigators. According to the family the investigation remains open, TPD has yet to respond to any updates since WANM’s request. For Jaden’s brother, Clayton Detant, time feels like it has stood still since the investigation started.
“For the past year straight, there has been no momentum,” Clayton Detant said. “There has been no hope—no tangible signs that they’re actually moving forward.”
Although the shooting occurred off campus, the Detant family believes because he was a current student, the university could have provided more support.
“FAMU technically and legally does not have any liability in this,” Clayton Detant said. “But I feel like this would have been a perfect opportunity to display their dedication to their student body—to show that if someone comes for one of us, they come for all of us.”
Jaden’s father described him as the life of the party, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met. He said no language barrier could stop his son from making a new friend.
“During the viewing, that’s when we really understood the impact he had,” his father said. “There were over 100 classmates from high school who came one after another, sharing their stories and their experiences with Jaden—and how he impacted their lives.”
As the one-year anniversary passes, the Detant family says there can be no closure until justice for Jaden Detant becomes a reality.
