In the early morning hours of May 7, 2026, the sense of peace in a Jackson, Mississippi neighborhood was shattered by the sound of gunshots. However, it wasn't until around 12:10 p.m. that the tragic outcome of that violence was discovered. A passerby noticed a man lying in the backyard of a residence on Gaites Lane and alerted the authorities. When Jackson Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they found the body of 39-year-old Billy Joe Thedford III.
A Black male, Thedford had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, which was determined to be the backyard of his own home. The Hinds County Coroner's Office, along with the police department's Robbery/Homicide Unit and Mobile Crime Unit, responded to begin the investigation into his death.
The investigation into the death of Billy Joe Thedford III quickly led to a significant development. On the evening of May 7, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m., officers with the Jackson Police Department converged on the 1800 block of Chadwick Drive and arrested 38-year-old Aras Henderson, who is reportedly Thedford's cousin. Henderson, also known by the nickname "BooBay," was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. Following his arrest, he was transported to the Jackson Police Department headquarters for questioning before being booked into the city's holding facility.
Following his arrest, Aras Henderson was formally charged with murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He made his initial appearance before a municipal court judge where he was given a combined bond of $1 million. The bond was set at $900,000 for the murder charge and $100,000 for the firearm charge. While an arrest has been made, the case is still considered to be an ongoing investigation. Authorities have not yet publicly disclosed a motive for the shooting. The overview of the case reveals a tragic story of a man being gunned down in his own backyard, with a close family member being accused of the crime. The legal proceedings will need to unfold to determine the full circumstances surrounding the death of Billy Joe Thedford III.
