Reign Tapiato Sentenced to 20 Years for the Homicide of Jakarah Lopez-Moore

Rochester, NY- On Monday, November 4, 2024, 28-year-old Reign Tapiato was sentenced by New York State Supreme Court Justice Moran to 20 years in the New York State Department of Corrections plus 5 years of post-release supervision. The defendant previously pled guilty to Manslaughter in the 1st Degree for the fatal shooting of Jakarah Lopez-Moore. 

On August 29, 2023, the family of 16-year-old Jakarah Lopez-Moore reported the teenager missing. The Rochester Police Department began investigating her disappearance. On October 14, 2023, her body was found in the woods behind Vanguard Parkway by fishermen walking toward the Erie Canal.

After a thorough investigation by the Rochester Police Department, Reign Tapiato was identified as responsible for Jakarah’s death. It was determined that on August 27, 2023, Reign Tapiato shot and killed Jakarah Lopez-Moore while in a wooded area in the City of Rochester.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant District Attorney Michael Caranante, of the Special Investigations Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Stephen Ryck, also of the Special Investigations Bureau.

“While nothing will bring back 16-year-old Jakarah Lopez-Moore, her friends and family can finally mourn this unimaginable loss knowing that Reign Tapiato is going to the New York State Department of Corrections,” said Assistant District Attorney Michael Caranante. “While I am pleased that Reign Tapiato admitted to shooting and killing Jakarah and will spend the next twenty years incarcerated, it does not change the fact that a 16-year-old was shot and killed. I want to thank the Rochester Police Department for their thorough investigation of this case. From the first missing-person call from Jakarah’s family, the Rochester Police Department worked diligently to find out what happened to this young woman and are ultimately responsible for the identification and apprehension of Reign Tapiato.”

“Jakarah Lopez-Moore had her entire life ahead of her before Reign Tapiato violently stripped that life away from her friends and family,” said Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley. “Reign Tapiato killed teenage Jakarah Lopez-Moore and allowed her family to frantically look for her for months, suffering and wondering if she was alive. We hope that Reign Tapiato will use his time in the Department of Corrections to reflect on his violent actions that took a life and ruined a family. It is our hope that Jakarah Lopez-Moore’s loved ones can find justice in today’s sentence.”