Unbreakable Justice: Jackson State University Murder Case Four Arrested

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Unbreakable Justice: After 2 years of silence and searching, Mississippi investigators finally deliver answers in the killing of Jackson State student Jaylen Burns

It took two long years, but justice is finally catching up. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has arrested four people connected to the 2023 killing of Jackson State University student Jaylen Burns, closing one of the most painful chapters in recent JSU history. On October 15, 2023, shots rang out at University Pointe Apartments, just off the Jackson State campus. When police arrived, they found Burns suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to the hospital but did not make it. That night changed everything, not just for the Burns family, but for the JSU community and the city of Jackson. After the shooting, the trail went cold. Rumors swirled, frustration grew, and the community demanded answers. By November 2023, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation took over the case, and that is when the grind began. Now, two years later, MBI says their persistence has paid off. Working alongside federal partners, they have arrested the following individuals: Elisha Brown, 23, Accessory after the fact, hindering prosecution; Jamison Kelly Jr, 23, Accessory after the fact; Marquis Scales, 24, Charged with murder; and Ziqua Amos, 21, Charged with murder. The United States Marshals Service helped MBI track them down and make the arrests. “This case is a testament to the persistence and professionalism of our state’s law enforcement community,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. He praised MBI agents and partner agencies for their relentless effort, saying their work shows an unwavering commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families. MBI Lt Colonel James Herzog added, “This investigation took years of hard work and collaboration among multiple agencies. MBI extends its sincere gratitude to all law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to ensuring justice was served.” The Mississippi Department of Public Safety said there will be no further public comment while the case is being prosecuted, but the arrests speak for themselves. For students at Jackson State University, Jaylen Burns was not just another face in a photo. He was one of them, a young man with plans, ambition, and community pride. When news broke of his death back in 2023, the JSU campus fell silent. Vigils popped up across campus, classmates lit candles, and professors spoke about him with tears in their eyes. Burns’ murder was not just another tragedy in Jackson, it was personal. It sparked deep conversations about student safety, the conditions around off campus housing, and the heavy emotional toll of violence in Black college spaces. “Jaylen’s death shook this school to its core,” one JSU student said at the time. “We wanted justice, but we also wanted change.” MBI took control of the investigation in November 2023, teaming up with the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office, the Jackson Police Department, and federal authorities to piece together what really happened that night. It was not quick work. It took interviews, forensic digging, and the cooperation of witnesses who were initially too afraid to come forward. Investigators say patience and persistence made the difference. Commissioner Tindell praised the teamwork: “When our local, state, and federal teams unite, Mississippi’s law enforcement system shows what it’s truly capable of.” This was not about one agency taking credit. It was about staying locked in until the job got done. All four suspects are being held in Hinds County, where District Attorney Jody Owens will handle the prosecution. MBI says it will keep working with Owens’ office to make sure the evidence is airtight and justice sticks. Scales and Amos face murder charges, while Brown and Kelly are charged as accessories for allegedly helping or hiding information after the shooting. Trials are expected to begin sometime next year, though no official court dates have been announced. Even as these arrests bring closure, the pain still runs deep. Every October since 2023, JSU students have gathered to honor Burns’ memory with a candlelight vigil and moments of silence. They speak his name, wear his colors, and keep the message alive: “No student should lose their life just for going to class.” “Jaylen had this energy,” one friend said. “He was the kind of dude who believed we could all make it, that’s what we remember.” His story became more than a tragedy, it became a movement for change. The Burns case forced Jackson State and the city to take a hard look at student safety. In the months after the shooting, JSU expanded patrols, added more lighting around campus housing, and set up stronger partnerships with local law enforcement. The University Pointe Apartments, where the shooting occurred, has since increased security measures and added stricter visitor controls. Still, students and parents continue pushing for more, more transparency, more communication, and more prevention. This tragedy reignited a broader national discussion about safety at HBCUs, many of which are located in urban communities facing high crime rates and limited resources. The message is simple: students deserve protection, no matter the ZIP code. With four suspects now in custody, the community is finally starting to breathe again. For Jaylen’s family, classmates, and the people of Jackson, this moment is long overdue, a reminder that justice delayed is not always justice denied. Commissioner Tindell summed it up best: “We can’t bring Jaylen back, but we can honor him by ensuring those responsible are held accountable. That’s what justice demands.”