On January 21, 2023, Jaquarius Ross, a 21-year-old male, was fatally shot in Flora, Mississippi. The incident occurred at 623 St. Charles St., where law enforcement officers from the Madison County Sheriff's office found Ross deceased with multiple gunshot wounds to the left side of his body. At the time of his death, Ross was in his truck with a passenger, who was unharmed.
The investigation into Ross's death led to the identification of 22-year-old Jakeviyon Hunter as the suspect.
A passenger in Ross's vehicle at the time of the shooting identified Hunter as the gunman. Surveillance footage from a nearby home captured the moments after Ross arrived at the location, showing an individual approach his truck and fire approximately nine shots into the vehicle before fleeing on foot. The suspect in the video was seen wearing a tan-colored jacket or hoodie. Investigators later discovered a social media post made by Hunter hours before the shooting in which he was wearing a matching jacket.
Further investigation revealed that Hunter had lured Ross to the location under the pretense of Ross bringing him a pair of shoes. These shoes were found in Ross's lap after he was killed. Cell phone records for Hunter also placed him at the scene of the crime at the time of the shooting. The motive for the shooting is believed to be a prior dispute between Hunter and Ross. Several months before the fatal shooting, in November 2022, both men were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop where marijuana and firearms were found in the vehicle Ross was driving.
Jakeviyon Hunter was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Following a three-day jury trial in Madison County Circuit Court, Hunter was found guilty of both charges. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder charge and an additional five years for shooting into an occupied vehicle.
