In the small city of Delhi, Louisiana, the life of 21-year-old Quatarious DeShon Jones, a beloved male and graduate of Delhi High School, was tragically cut short on July 13, 2022. Known for his big, beautiful smile and his passion for basketball, a sport in which he was considered a top player in his class, his death sent ripples through the community that had watched him grow.
Jones, who was also known by the nickname '1 Mac,' was remembered as a nice and respectable young man.
On that fateful day, Jones was walking with two other men on Second Street at Charter Street when a black Chevrolet Tahoe approached. A passenger, described as a Black male wearing a pink sweater and a blue skull cap, exited the vehicle and opened fire on the three men. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other two victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The sudden violence of the act left the community in shock and mourning.
The Delhi Police Department requested the assistance of the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations to lead the inquiry into the homicide. Their investigation quickly identified a suspect, 19-year-old Johntaviuos Sledge of Rayville. An arrest warrant was obtained, and Sledge was taken into custody. He was subsequently booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center.
Johntaviuos Sledge was charged with one count of second-degree murder for the death of Quatarious DeShon Jones. In addition to the murder charge, Sledge also faced two counts of attempted second-degree murder for the injuries sustained by the other two men who were with Jones at the time of the shooting. The investigation into the motive and the circumstances leading up to the shooting remained ongoing as the legal process against Sledge commenced.
