In the early morning hours of October 29, 2023, a vibrant young woman's life was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire. Twenty-one-year-old Jade Kennedy Rhodes, a resident of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was fatally shot at Club 195, a nightclub located near the Forrest-Stone County line in Wiggins. The incident, which also left several other individuals wounded, cast a somber shadow over the community and set in motion a determined investigation by law enforcement.
Jade, a 2020
graduate of Oak Grove High School, was a student at Pearl River Community College, where she was pursuing her passion for the arts on a Performing Arts Scholarship with a focus on Marketing. Remembered as a bright and entrepreneurial spirit, she had already launched her own clothing line, 'Love Angel,' and was known for her infectious positivity and creative drive. Her sudden and violent death left her family, friends, and the wider community in a state of shock and profound grief.
In the days that followed the shooting, investigators from the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Hattiesburg Police Department and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department, worked tirelessly to piece together the events of that tragic night. Their efforts soon led to a series of arrests. Two men, 25-year-old Zadarruous Sutton and 23-year-old Montrell Quinn, were taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault. Another individual, 21-year-old Antontonia Murry, was arrested and charged with hindering prosecution. Bond for Sutton was set at $350,000, while Quinn's was set at $500,000 and Murry's at $2,500. Reports also indicated that a fifth suspect connected to the shooting was apprehended, though their identity and the specific charges they faced were not immediately made public.
As the legal process began to unfold, the charges against the initial suspects highlighted the complexity of the case. While arrests were made in connection with the violence at the club, the community awaited further information on who would be held directly responsible for Jade's death. The investigation continued as authorities sought to bring clarity and justice for a young life full of promise, tragically extinguished.
