In the early morning hours of February 2, 2021, a horrific act of violence shattered the peace in a Muskogee, Oklahoma home, claiming the life of 24-year-old Ja Varian KeyShawn Lee. A male, Lee was tragically killed in a mass shooting that also took the lives of five young children, his nieces and nephews, who ranged in age from one to nine years old. The devastating incident unfolded at approximately 1:30 a.m.
when officers responded to reports of a shooting at the residence.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement encountered an armed man. After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody. The gunman was identified as 25-year-old Jarron Deajon Pridgeon, who was the brother of Ja Varian Lee. In the violent rampage, the mother of the deceased children was also critically injured but survived the attack. Three other children present in the house were physically unharmed.
The motive for the deadly assault remained unclear, though it was reported that Pridgeon had a history of mental health issues. He was subsequently charged with six counts of first-degree murder, one count of shooting with intent to kill, and one count of possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. In October 2024, Jarron Deajon Pridgeon pleaded guilty to the shooting and was sentenced to life in prison.
