In the early afternoon of June 12, 2022, a devastating incident unfolded at a gas station on Bailey Drive in Jackson, Mississippi, claiming the life of 5-year-old Mariyah Lacey. The young female was inside her mother's vehicle when a dispute erupted between her mother, Jasmine Self, and a man identified as 25-year-old Robert Dewayne Jackson. The argument escalated, tragically culminating in Jackson allegedly firing shots into the car. Mariyah was fatally wounded in the gunfire, and her mother sustained a graze wound.
The Jackson Police Department responded swiftly to the violent act, launching an intensive investigation that led to the capture of Robert Dewayne Jackson within 24 hours of the shooting. Following his arrest, Jackson was charged with murder, aggravated assault, and drive-by shooting. He was subsequently held in the Hinds County Jail. The death of the young girl marked the 65th homicide in the city of Jackson for that year, prompting expressions of sorrow and calls for community action from city officials, including Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.
The community mourned the loss of Mariyah, who was remembered by her family as a beautiful soul with a contagious laugh and warming energy. In the wake of her death, candlelight vigils and a homegoing celebration were held to honor her memory, reflecting the profound impact of the tragedy on those who knew her and the broader community. The case against Robert Dewayne Jackson is ongoing as the community continues to seek justice for the senseless loss of a young life.
