On the tragic evening of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023, the life of 10-year-old Ladarius Nesbitt of Lambert, Mississippi, was cut short by an act of violence in the small town of Friars Point. The young boy was riding in a vehicle with a 14-year-old girl, driving around the downtown area, when their car was suddenly targeted by gunfire. The shots fatally wounded Ladarius, turning a festive night into one of unimaginable horror for his family and the community.
The Coahoma County
Sheriff's Office received a distress call around 9:00 p.m. reporting that a child had been shot and was being rushed to a hospital in Clarksdale by a private vehicle. Despite the urgent effort to save him, Ladarius Nesbitt was pronounced dead upon arrival at the emergency room of Northwest Regional Medical Center. The senseless shooting of a child on Christmas Eve left the community of roughly 900 people on edge and searching for answers.
In the days that followed, the investigation into the young boy's death progressed, and authorities identified a suspect in the case. The Coahoma County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for the arrest of Demetrice Henderson, who is wanted for the murder of Ladarius Nesbitt. Law enforcement has asked for the public's assistance in locating Henderson. A reward of $2,500 has been offered for any information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for this tragic and senseless shooting. As of now, no arrests have been publicly announced.
