On a cold February evening in Jackson, Mississippi, the life of 23-year-old Phillip Thames Jr. was brought to a violent and tragic end. On February 9, 2026, he was discovered on Brown Street, having been fatally shot. The incident marked another grim statistic in the city's struggle with gun violence and left a family and community to mourn a young life lost.
The Jackson Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the homicide.
Their efforts soon led to the identification of two individuals believed to be responsible for the death of Phillip Thames Jr. The first arrest was of a woman named Tatiana Johnson, who was apprehended in Adams County. She was promptly returned to Jackson to face legal proceedings. Not long after, a second suspect, 32-year-old Cadarius Towers, was also located and taken into custody.
Both Tatiana Johnson and Cadarius Towers were charged with capital murder for their alleged roles in the shooting death of Phillip Thames Jr. In addition to the murder charges, both individuals were also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, suggesting they had prior felony convictions that legally barred them from owning guns. While the arrests marked a significant development in the case, the investigation continued as authorities worked to build a comprehensive picture of the events that transpired on that fatal day on Brown Street. The community was encouraged to provide any further information that could assist in bringing final closure to the family of Phillip Thames Jr.
