On February 3, 2023, a trip to a basketball game turned tragic for sixteen-year-old Jalen Littleton in Yazoo City, Mississippi. That day, on Shady Drive, Jalen and a 15-year-old companion were met with a burst of gunfire that would end one life and forever alter another. Littleton was struck multiple times and succumbed to his injuries, while his friend was also wounded but survived the violent encounter.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to identify two suspects: James
Banks Jr. and Kendrick Myers. Not long after the incident, both men were taken into custody and faced serious charges for their alleged roles in the attack. They were each charged with first-degree murder for the death of Jalen Littleton and attempted murder for the injuries sustained by the surviving teen. Investigators suggested the shooting may have been connected to a fight that had previously occurred at a local high school.
Opting for a trial instead of a plea agreement, James Banks Jr. and Kendrick Myers faced a Yazoo County Circuit Court jury. After a three-day trial in March 2025, the jury found both men guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder. The conviction brought a sense of closure to a community shaken by the violent loss of a young life. The sentencing for Banks and Myers was scheduled for April 1, 2025, where they were expected to receive lengthy prison sentences for the fatal shooting.
