In the early morning hours of Sunday, April 28, 2019, tragedy struck in Meridian, Mississippi, ending the life of 30-year-old Tajh Hikeem Forbes, Sr. Born on February 9, 1989, Forbes was a father of seven who was reportedly making efforts to turn his life around and give back to his community's children. He was fatally shot while sitting in his car near a makeshift bar located at 20th Avenue and 17th Street and was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen and
arm.
The Meridian Police Department quickly identified a suspect in the shooting, Marcus Wooten, also of Meridian. Wooten was not immediately arrested as he had sustained a gunshot wound himself following the alleged shooting of Forbes. Authorities believe that after Wooten fired into the driver's side of Forbes' vehicle, an unidentified passenger in Forbes' car exited the vehicle and shot Wooten in the leg and hip as he fled the scene. Investigators were able to follow a blood trail from the scene to a drainage ditch where they located a gun, and then to a nearby home where they found the injured Wooten. The bullets in the discovered firearm were found to match the shell casings from the scene of the crime.
Following his release from the hospital, Marcus Wooten was formally charged with the murder of Tajh Forbes. He appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on May 14, 2019. During the hearing, a Meridian Police Department detective testified that a witness reported seeing Wooten approach Forbes' car and fire multiple shots. The detective also stated that both Wooten and Forbes had identified themselves to police as members of the Gangster Disciples street gang, though it was stated that no other gangs appeared to be involved in the incident. Wooten's bond was set at $800,000. He was to be guarded by a uniformed officer at the hospital until he could be formally arrested and transferred to the appropriate facilities.
