On a summer afternoon in Thomasville, Georgia, a dispute escalated into a fatal encounter that claimed the life of 21-year-old Tazavia Rashawn Cooper of Bainbridge. The incident, which occurred on Friday, July 5, 2019, at the intersection of Feinberg and Lester streets, also resulted in injury to a second individual. An argument that turned violent led to a shooting, forever altering the lives of two families.
Authorities quickly identified a suspect, and later that evening, 18-year-old Derylmaize Jackson was turned over to the police by his own family. An investigation into the events that transpired revealed that a meeting had soured, leading to an argument and ultimately the shooting. Jackson was subsequently arrested and faced charges for his role in the tragic event. Another man, David McNair, also from Bainbridge, was wounded in the hip during the altercation and was transported to a local hospital for medical attention.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Derylmaize Jackson was charged with one count of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was held in the Thomas County Jail as the legal process moved forward. Following a three-day trial, a jury found Jackson guilty of the charges against him. In July 2021, a Thomas County Superior Court judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Tazavia Rashawn Cooper. Jackson also received an additional five-year consecutive sentence for the aggravated assault and firearm possession charges.
Tazavia Rashawn Cooper, known affectionately as 'Tadpole' to his family and 'Zay' to his friends and fans of his music, was born on November 19, 1997. He was remembered as someone who loved making music and entertaining. His life was cut short in a moment of violence that a police official described as a tragedy not just for the families involved, but for the entire community.
