A quiet evening at Leavell Woods Park in Jackson, Mississippi, turned tragic on Saturday, April 25, 2026, when 18-year-old Justin Body was shot and killed. The incident, which cut short the young man's life, occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. and was a result of gun violence.
The Jackson Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Unit quickly began an investigation into the fatal shooting. By the following morning, Sunday, April 26, detectives had identified a suspect in the case.
The individual was identified as 19-year-old Ladarius Evans.
Following his identification as the primary suspect, Ladarius Evans was taken into custody by law enforcement. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Justin Body. In addition to the murder charge, Evans also faces a charge of tampering with evidence in connection with the shooting. On Monday, April 27, Evans appeared before a municipal court judge who set his combined bond at $600,000. The bond was comprised of $500,000 for the murder charge and $100,000 for the charge of tampering with evidence. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Justin Body is ongoing.
