In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 29, 2026, the life of 24-year-old Jertavius Dewayne Hunt of Michigan City, Mississippi, was tragically cut short. He was at a gathering at a residence in Blue Mountain, a town in Tippah County, following local prom festivities. What should have been a night of celebration turned into a scene of violence when a large altercation involving multiple people broke out at the after-prom party. The dispute escalated, and gunfire erupted.
When authorities from the Tippah County Sheriff's Department responded to reports of a shooting at the residence around 1 a.m., they found that Jertavius and his older brother, 27-year-old Jerrious DeShon Hunt, had both been fatally wounded. Both brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.
The deaths of Jertavius and his brother sent shockwaves through their community in Michigan City. Jertavius, born on June 15, 2001, in Memphis, Tennessee, was known for his sense of humor and his love of making others laugh. A 2019 graduate of Ashland High School, he enjoyed fishing and had a passion for cooking. He was a father, leaving behind a young daughter, RhaNiya Renee Hunt. His passing was mourned by his parents, Jerry and Geanita Traylor, his sisters, and a host of other relatives and friends who remembered his kind spirit. Funeral services were later held at the Ashland High School Gymnasium, with his burial taking place at Hardaway M.B. Church Cemetery in his hometown.
The investigation into the double homicide moved quickly. Authorities identified a suspect, 17-year-old Kylen Clark, a high school student. Clark was taken into custody and has been formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Jertavius and Jerrious Hunt. Investigators believe the shooting was the result of the altercation that occurred at the party. Due to the severity of the charges, it is expected that Clark will be tried within the adult court system. The Tippah County Sheriff's Department's investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains active, and they have not released further details about a possible motive or if other individuals may have been involved.
