In the small community of Macon, Mississippi, the life of 24-year-old Jessie Bradford Jr. was cut short on the afternoon of January 16, 2026. The Noxubee County Sheriff's Department received a call about a shooting on Valley Street in the Pineywoods area. Upon their arrival, deputies found Bradford suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel provided aid at the scene before transporting him to the Noxubee County Emergency Room, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
At the scene of the incident, law enforcement arrested 23-year-old Jerlaiquiss Taikun Caldwell. According to Sheriff Tedrick Liddell, Caldwell allegedly admitted to the shooting. He reportedly told investigators that the gun was in his hand when it discharged, firing the fatal shot. Based on this admission, Caldwell was taken into custody.
Initially, Jerlaiquiss Taikun Caldwell was charged with murder in connection with Jessie Bradford Jr.'s death. He was scheduled for an initial appearance in Noxubee County Justice Court. However, the charge was later changed to Manslaughter-Culpable Negligence. Following this revised charge, Caldwell appeared in court where a judge set his bond at $50,000. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing, and authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information to contact the Noxubee County Sheriff's office or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers.
