Jaymirus Stewart was a 29-year-old man whose life was cut short in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the fall of 2026. In a previous encounter with law enforcement in 2022, he had been arrested in connection with a burglary, vehicle theft, and an altercation involving firearms.
On the evening of Saturday, October 10, 2026, events turned fatal for Jaymirus. Just before 6 p.m., he was in the 6000 block of Byron Street, a residential road in Baton Rouge.
According to police records, he was engaged in some kind of transaction with a person sitting in the back seat of a parked vehicle. Suddenly, gunfire erupted from inside the car. Jaymirus was struck multiple times.
As the driver of the vehicle sped away, Jaymirus held onto the rear passenger-side door. He was dragged for a short distance before he fell to the ground. He managed to run briefly before collapsing near a home on the street. Residents and passersby were alerted to the violence, and a call was placed to the Baton Rouge Police Department at approximately 5:57 p.m.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Jaymirus Stewart suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead. Homicide detectives began an investigation, canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and evidence. Initially, police stated they had no suspect or motive in the shooting.
The investigation quickly progressed, and within days, authorities identified a suspect. On Thursday, October 15, detectives with the Baton Rouge Police Department, working alongside the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, located 28-year-old Darren Cooks. When officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle Cooks was in, he refused to pull over and led them on a brief car chase.
After stopping the vehicle, Cooks fled on foot and forced his way into a nearby residence, attempting to hide from the pursuing officers. The homeowners, who did not know Cooks, managed to run out of the house. Another person was still inside when Cooks allegedly asked about hiding in the attic and warned them not to speak to the police. Law enforcement surrounded the home, and Cooks was taken into custody without further incident.
Darren Cooks was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Jaymirus Stewart. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the transaction and the motive for the shooting remained ongoing following the arrest.
As of October 2026, the case against Darren Cooks was proceeding through the justice system. Authorities continued to ask for the public's help with the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to contact the Baton Rouge Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867.
