In the summer of 2023, the life of 17-year-old Tristan Izajasz Calmes was tragically cut short in a shooting that sent ripples through the Starkville, Mississippi community. On the morning of July 26, deputies from the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about a gunshot victim on Finley Drive. Upon arrival, they found the Black male teenager still alive, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was quickly transported to OCH Regional Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The incident was soon described as a case of teen violence turning fatal, leaving a family and community to mourn the loss of a young life.
The investigation into Calmes's death moved swiftly, with law enforcement making two arrests in connection with the shooting on the very same day. The individuals taken into custody were identified as 24-year-old Tatiyana Brooks of Starkville and a juvenile male. The Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office announced their intention to seek having the juvenile suspect charged as an adult. Both were initially charged with first-degree murder.
As the legal process unfolded, the identities of the suspects and the roles they played became clearer. The juvenile was identified as Jermarion Elliott. Evidence presented indicated that Elliott was the one who shot Calmes, and Brooks had assisted him in attempting to evade arrest. In a subsequent court appearance, both Elliott and Brooks pleaded guilty to amended charges. Elliott, who was 17 at the time of sentencing, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Brooks pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact of murder and received a 20-year sentence. The resolution of the case brought a measure of closure to the legal proceedings, but the community was left to grapple with the violent loss of a teenager at the hands of another.
