In the early morning hours of February 12, 2023, tragedy struck in Lexington, Mississippi, claiming the life of 31-year-old Black / African American male Yakebau "Ya Ya" Cortez Head. Known to his loved ones as a devoted father and son, Yakebau had traveled to his girlfriend's residence on that fateful Sunday. Reports indicate that he arrived at the home and knocked on the front door, where his partner was expecting him. While standing on the doorstep, he was ambushed and shot five times in the back, a sudden act of violence that ended his life before he could enter the safety of the house.
In the chaotic moments following the gunfire, witnesses and family members who lived nearby rushed to the scene. According to accounts later shared by his mother, Tracie Mayfield, individuals present at the location observed a vehicle driving away from the vicinity of the shooting. Family members reported recognizing a man getting into this car and alleged that both occupants of the vehicle were known to Yakebau. Despite these eyewitness accounts and the family's strong suspicions regarding the identity of those responsible, the immediate aftermath did not yield a swift apprehension of the perpetrators.
The investigation into the homicide fell under the jurisdiction of the Lexington Police Department, with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. In the months that followed, the case was marked by a lack of public progress and growing frustration from the victim's family. By late August 2023, more than six months after the murder, no arrests had been made, and no official suspects had been publicly named by authorities. The victim's mother expressed deep dissatisfaction with the local police's handling of the case, citing a failure to communicate updates and allegations that law enforcement implied her son played a role in his own death, which reportedly led to the denial of his life insurance payout.
As of the last detailed reports available in late 2023, the murder of Yakebau Cortez Head remained unsolved. While the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation confirmed their role in assisting local authorities, the Lexington Police Department had not announced any charges or identified a person of interest. The family continued to advocate for justice, holding onto the belief that those who took Yakebau's life were known individuals from the community who had yet to face legal consequences for their actions.
