On the night of February 9, 2017, a gathering of friends at the Westwood Apartments on Robinson Road in Jackson, Mississippi, turned into a scene of violence and tragedy, resulting in the death of 23-year-old Dominique Garrett. The young, Black male was with his brother and others, engrossed in a game of dominoes, when their evening was shattered by the intrusion of several armed men.
The armed intruders, at least three in number, gained unforced entry into the apartment and immediately
demanded the occupants' belongings. However, the residents of the apartment were also armed and chose to defend themselves rather than submit to the robbery. A chaotic exchange of gunfire erupted within the confines of the apartment. In the ensuing shootout, Dominique Garrett was struck by gunfire and died at the scene. His 25-year-old brother, Marquis Garrett, was also critically injured and was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds the following Sunday.
The violence of that night also claimed the lives of two of the alleged assailants. Jacarin Robinson, 21, was shot in the head and died inside the apartment. A second intruder, 23-year-old Jessie Kelly, was also shot. An accomplice transported Kelly to Merit Health, where he later died from his injuries. The incident, which began as an attempted robbery, had escalated into a quadruple homicide.
In the aftermath of the deadly encounter, the Jackson Police Department launched an investigation. They recovered several firearms from the apartment, believed to have been used during the shootout. An occupant of the apartment who was not injured during the incident was questioned by investigators. A person of interest, 24-year-old Carl Harper, voluntarily surrendered to the police on the Friday following the shooting. However, he was subsequently released. Information regarding a third suspected accomplice has not been publicly detailed, and there have been no subsequent reports of arrests or charges in connection with the deaths of Dominique and Marquis Garrett. The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence.
