On March 12, 2023, 19-year-old Justavian Macchaeus Fann, a recent graduate of Lufkin High School and resident of Jasper, Texas, was fatally shot at the Cabbage Patch Club, located in the 400 block of Charlton Road near Lufkin. Deputies from the Angelina County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of gunfire around 3 a.m., discovering a large gathering at the nightclub and Fann deceased at the scene.
In the days following the incident, authorities arrested four teenagers in connection with Fann's death. The individuals taken into custody were identified as 17-year-olds Jaiquies Lewis and Omarion Lewis, both from Wiergate, Texas; 19-year-old Zahdyn Brooks, also from Wiergate; and 19-year-old Jaykeevien Collins from Lufkin. Each was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with bonds set at $500,000. The sheriff's office indicated that additional charges were pending as the investigation continued.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and authorities have not disclosed further details about the circumstances leading to Fann's death. The Cabbage Patch Club, the site of the incident, has a history of violent occurrences; notably, a fatal stabbing in 2008 resulted in the death of a 54-year-old man. In that case, the 24-year-old suspect was later exonerated after a jury ruled he acted in self-defense.
Fann's passing elicited an outpouring of grief from the community. Friends and family remembered him as a kind and caring individual, with aspirations and a promising future ahead. Funeral services were held on March 25, 2023, at Faith Temple C.O.G.I.C. in Jasper, followed by interment at Huff Creek Cemetery.
As of now, the investigation into Fann's death is ongoing. The Angelina County Sheriff's Office continues to seek information from the public to piece together the events that led to the tragic loss of a young life.
