In the early hours of a Tuesday morning in Hammond, Louisiana, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet at the intersection of East David Drive and Martin Luther King Boulevard. When police responded to the call of shots fired around 1 a.m., they discovered 27-year-old Demarkius Jackson inside a vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
Despite medical efforts, Jackson succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Wednesday, March 7, 2017.
The investigation into the death of the male victim quickly focused on a possible motive of retaliation. Just a few months prior, on December 29, 2016, Jackson had been involved in a fatal altercation where he shot and killed 24-year-old Martin Baker during an argument. Authorities had investigated that incident and deemed Jackson's actions to be justifiable, clearing him of any wrongdoing. However, detectives suspected that Jackson's own death was a direct consequence of that prior event, an act of vengeance for the killing of Baker.
At the time of the initial reports, the Hammond Police Department had not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with Jackson's murder. Detectives were actively investigating the case and urged anyone with information to come forward to assist in bringing those responsible to justice. The case highlighted the cyclical nature of violence, where one tragic event appeared to have tragically given rise to another.
