Kansas Teen Charged with Murder After March Shooting — But Police Haven't Known Where He Is for Months

Prosecutors in Kansas have charged an 18-year-old with murder despite the fact that police have been unable to locate him.

Jaden Watts, 18, is accused of shooting 24-year-old Demarc M. Burgess multiple times on March 22 after a fight between the two escalated into a shooting, according to the Wichita Police Department.

Burgess would die later that same day at a local hospital, and the man who is now being charged with his murder disappeared.

The District Attorney’s Office for the 18th Judicial District of the State of Kansas filed formal charges in the case on June 3 in Sedgwick County.

PEOPLE obtained a copy of the filing, which charges Watts with second-degree murder. A second man, Trillian Ross, is facing one count each of tampering with evidence and being a felon in possession of a handgun.

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The charge against Watts comes after the WPD issued a felony pickup for arrest shortly after the shooting.

“Jaden is sought for questioning regarding this case and may have pertinent information,” police said at the time. “If you have information about his whereabouts, please call 911 immediately or contact WPD Investigators.”

A few days later, the WPD again released a statement.

“The Wichita Police Department is still searching for Jaden Watts. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to contact investigators,” wrote the WPD in the statement, which appeared on all of their social media accounts.

It has been more than six weeks since that statement was released, and still Watts remains at large.

A spokesperson for the Wichita Police Department tells PEOPLE that police consider Watts a fugitive and not a missing person.