Jarvis Brister Jr., an 18-year-old Black / African American male from Amite, Louisiana, was on the verge of a bright future. Just one week before he was set to graduate from St. Helena College and Career Academy, the high school football player had a full scholarship to play for Virginia University of Lynchburg in the fall. His cousin described him as a "good kid" who "didn't deserve this."
That future was stolen on the evening of Monday, May 5, 2025.
According to his family, Brister was playing basketball near the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Fifth Street when a fight broke out. His 17-year-old cousin was shot and injured. As Brister ran across the street to help his cousin, he was struck in the back of the head by a bullet. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries two days later, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. His younger cousin was reported to be recovering.
The Amite Police Department launched an investigation into the double shooting, which authorities said occurred while several people were present during the fight. The first arrest came on Tuesday, when police took 18-year-old Nastajaa Williams into custody. After Brister passed away, the charges against Williams were upgraded to include principal to first-degree murder.
The investigation quickly led to more arrests. Soon after, police apprehended 18-year-old Paris Brumfield and 19-year-old Gwendolyn Alexander, charging each with principal to attempted first-degree murder and principal to first-degree murder. They also arrested 17-year-old Pharrell Town, who had been wanted on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
On May 16, 2025, police announced a fifth arrest in the case. Terran Felder, 19, was taken into custody and charged with principal to first-degree murder, principal to attempted first-degree murder, riot, and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. As of May 2025, the case against the five individuals charged in connection with the shooting was proceeding through the legal system.
