A 39-year-old Black female named Melissa Turner, a fashion entrepreneur from Jackson, Mississippi, was killed on August 20, 2021. Known for her passion for fashion, she had started her own clothing brand for full-figured women called Modishlife, often modeling her own designs and holding local pop-up shops to promote her business.
On that Friday afternoon, at approximately 1 p.m., Melissa was in her car with her 16-year-old son, waiting at a traffic light at the intersection of Woodrow Wilson Avenue and West Street in Jackson. It was then that she was struck by a bullet in the shoulder. Her son, who was in the vehicle with her, was not physically injured during the incident. Emergency services were called to the scene, and she was quickly transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Melissa Turner succumbed to her injuries and passed away at the hospital.
The Jackson Police Department immediately began an investigation into the shooting. Within a day of the incident, investigators were able to identify and locate a suspect. A woman named Charity Barnes was arrested at the North Village Apartments in connection with the shooting. While an arrest was made swiftly, law enforcement did not publicly release a motive for the killing. The investigation was reported to be ongoing as the legal process against the suspect commenced. The sudden and violent death of the mother and business owner left her family and the local community seeking answers and justice.
