In the early hours of a Sunday morning, a chaotic scene unfolded at a nightclub north of Tyler, Texas, that tragically ended the life of Aaron Lamar Jackson, a 23-year-old man from Tyler. On December 28, 2025, a shooting erupted at the Valley Blues Club, leading to Jackson's death and the injury of another man. The Smith County Sheriff's Office later described the incident as gang-related.
Deputies arriving at the club on County Road 486 found a scene of panic, with hundreds of people
attempting to flee. Jackson was discovered in the parking lot and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to the involvement of multiple shooters and was described as a complex and active case.
In the days that followed, authorities made arrests in connection with the fatal shooting. Aaron Gordon Johnson Jr., also 23 and from Tyler, who was injured during the incident, was identified as a suspect. According to arrest documents, Johnson admitted to firing a 9mm Glock 19 in the direction of a person whose description matched Jackson's. He told investigators that he and his brothers had been having trouble with members of the Westside gang at the club. After getting shot in the foot and back, he claimed to have shot blindly towards the source of the gunshots. Johnson was charged with deadly conduct unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and tampering with physical evidence. He also admitted to discarding the gun he used as he was being driven to the hospital.
A second suspect, 20-year-old Jaqwaylon Pettigrew, was later arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, evading arrest, and tampering with physical evidence. Authorities identified Pettigrew as a documented member of the West Side Rolling 60's Crips. An affidavit stated that Pettigrew was seen hiding a Glock 23 in a nearby yard, and that this gun was one of the weapons used in the shooting. Evidence indicated that Pettigrew had discharged the firearm in the direction of people and buildings at the nightclub. His bonds were set at a total of $900,000. The Smith County Sheriff's Office has stated that more charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
