Police Chief Edwin Lopez said investigators connected Jenkins to the killing through call records, searches of his car and home, and information from his iCloud account. Police said Jenkins and Wells knew each other but were not friends. Investigators are still working to determine a motive.

Wells founded Wheels Up, Guns Down, an initiative focused on preventing violence. Lopez said Jenkins had previously been arrested on firearms charges; police did not disclose further details about those cases in announcing the arrest.

Lopez said Wells’ anti-violence work made the case especially significant to investigators, as well as to the people closest to him.

“These cases don't only impact the family, they impact the community,” Lopez said. He described Wells as someone who worked with law enforcement to raise awareness and reduce violence, adding that police took the effort to bring the case forward personally.

Police initially described the suspected shooter as wearing a dark face covering, hoodie, gloves and pants. The announcement of Jenkins’ arrest marks a development in a killing that shook the Liberty City community, but police have not publicly explained what led to the shooting.