In the early hours of a Saturday in June, the life of Lester Brooks Jr., a 32-year-old man from Shuqualak, Mississippi, was tragically cut short. Just after midnight on June 23, 2018, what began as a celebration of his birthday the day before, ended in violence near the Track Side nightclub. An altercation that started inside the club escalated and spilled outside, resulting in gunfire.
Brooks was shot in the chest and, despite being rushed to the hospital by a friend, succumbed to his injuries.
Remembered as a pillar of his community, Brooks, known to friends as 'LB,' was a devoted father to two daughters and a two-month-old son. He was known for his positive impact on his hometown, having organized kickball tournaments to bring people together and a bike giveaway for local children. His sudden death sent ripples of grief through the community, who mourned the loss of a man described as a hard worker and a great father who was always trying to make a positive difference.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to a suspect. Traveon Jackson Mattix, who was 20 years old at the time, was arrested in connection with the incident. In addition to the death of Brooks, another man was also injured during the shooting. Mattix was subsequently charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault.
Following his arrest, Traveon Jackson Mattix made his initial court appearance on the Monday following the shooting. A judge set his bond at $100,000 for the aggravated assault charge, while no bond was granted for the murder charge, keeping him in custody as the legal process began to unfold.
