On the evening of October 19, 2025, a dispute near a Valero gas station in the 900 block of Cooper Road in Jackson, Mississippi, escalated into deadly violence. In the moments following the altercation, shots were fired from a white sedan, possibly a Honda, or a small SUV, striking 22-year-old Melvin Bass. Mr. Bass, a Black male, collapsed outside the gas station and was pronounced dead at the scene as a crowd of distraught onlookers gathered.
Investigators quickly began to piece
together the events of that evening, reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. Interim Police Chief Tyree Jones reported that the shooter or shooters fled in the light-colored vehicle after firing multiple times at Bass. The Jackson Police Department issued a public appeal for any information regarding the shooting.
Within days of the shooting, authorities announced a breakthrough in the case. Two teenage girls, identified as Carniya Randolph and Candice McVeigh, were taken into custody. They were both charged with accessory after the fact to murder. During their initial court appearance in Jackson Municipal Court, both suspects were denied bond. Detectives have indicated that they anticipate making more arrests as their investigation continues. As of the latest updates, the individual or individuals who fired the fatal shots have not been publicly identified or taken into custody, and the public's assistance is still being sought by law enforcement.
