In the early hours of October 14, 2018, the life of a promising 20-year-old male, Taji Simon Jr., an African American, was tragically cut short in his hometown of Marksville, Louisiana. Known to many by his stage name 'Marley Garcia,' Simon was an aspiring rapper who had recently achieved a significant milestone in his burgeoning career, signing a deal with Rap-A-Lot Records.
A 2016 graduate of Marksville High School, he was remembered for his passion for music, as well as his involvement in football and basketball.
The fatal incident unfolded at approximately 1:00 a.m. inside Borrel's Lounge on Preston Street. Marksville Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting at the establishment. Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim scene. Both Taji Simon Jr. and another man, 27-year-old Derrick McGlory, had sustained gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response from emergency services, both men were pronounced dead at the scene by Acadian Ambulance personnel.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement officials began an intensive investigation. Through interviews with witnesses present at the lounge, a suspect was quickly identified. Jimmie McGlory, 27 years old at the time, was apprehended by the Marksville Police Department in connection with the double homicide.
Following his arrest, Jimmie McGlory was booked into the Avoyelles Parish Detention Center. He faced two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Taji Simon Jr. and Derrick McGlory. While an arrest was made, authorities did not immediately release information regarding a potential motive for the shooting or clarify the relationship between the suspect and the second victim, Derrick McGlory. The community was left to mourn the loss of two of its members, with the untimely death of a young artist on the rise sending shockwaves through the city of Marksville.
