Jackson State University – Urban City Podcast Group

Unbreakable Justice: Jackson State University Murder Case Four Arrested

Urban City Podcast Group — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:02:09 +0000

Major Takeaways

Four people arrested in connection with the 2023 murder of Jackson State student Jaylen Burns.
MBI and U.S. Marshals worked together for two years to solve the case.
The arrests renew focus on safety and justice across HBCU campuses.

5 Minute Read

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.”

Mississippi Homecoming Weekend Turns Tragic: Gunfire Erupts at Jackson State, Alcorn, Leland, and Heidelberg

Urban City Podcast Group — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:13:25 +0000

Major Takeaways

Multiple shootings across Mississippi including at two HBCUshave raised urgent questions about safety during public and campus events.
The Jackson State homecoming celebration was marred by gunfire, leaving attendees shaken and authorities scrambling for answers.
These incidents underscore the growing tension in communities already struggling with rising violence and a need for stronger prevention efforts.

Mississippi on Edge: Shootings at Jackson State, Alcorn State, and Leland Shake the Community

What should have been a weekend full of pride, football, and community turned into a night of chaos across Mississippi. From Jackson to Lorman, and all the way down to Leland and Heidelberg, homecoming celebrations were overshadowed by gunfire, sirens, and heartbreak. Homecoming season is sacred in the South, especially in Mississippi. It’s a time when generations return home, when families crowd around tailgates, when old school pride and friendly competition fill the air. But this year, that joy was shattered. Instead of unity, the weekend was marred by violence, loss, and confusion — the kind that leaves a mark on both the living and the legacy of the towns themselves.

Jackson State University’s homecoming is one of Mississippi’s biggest events, a celebration of HBCU pride, culture, and community. But as the crowds gathered near Veterans Memorial Stadium for food, music, and football, chaos erupted. Gunfire broke out near the tailgate area, and in an instant, screams replaced laughter. A young child was struck by a bullet. Thankfully, police say the child is recovering, but no suspects have been identified. Families fled in panic as first responders flooded the area, trying to calm the confusion and secure the scene. Adding to the fear, several vehicles parked nearby caught fire just minutes later. Firefighters contained the blaze, and investigators believe the incidents were unrelated, but the damage was done. A night that should’ve celebrated Black excellence and community pride instead ended in shock and disbelief. For Jackson State, this wasn’t just another homecoming gone wrong. It was a reminder of the violence creeping closer to places once considered safe havens for celebration and fellowship.

Roughly 90 miles away, Alcorn State University was facing its own tragedy. Near the Industrial Technology Building, shots rang out during the campus’s homecoming festivities. Three people were hit by bullets. One of them, a young woman from Vicksburg, didn’t survive. The campus went into lockdown as frightened students barricaded inside dorms and classrooms. Police, joined by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, are still trying to piece together what sparked the shooting. No arrests have been made, but the pain is real and heavy across the Alcorn family. For an HBCU built on legacy, love, and learning, this tragedy hits deep. Alcorn has long stood as a symbol of togetherness and tradition, a safe place where generations of Black scholars have thrived. That sense of peace has now been disturbed by gunfire.

If the incidents in Jackson and Lorman weren’t enough, the small Delta city of Leland was plunged into one of the deadliest nights in its history. After the local high school’s homecoming game, what began as a joyous street celebration quickly turned into a nightmare. Gunshots erupted in the crowd. When the smoke cleared, six people were dead, and more than a dozen others were wounded. Witnesses described pure chaos — people running for cover, others trying desperately to help the injured. Some of the victims were teenagers, others adults who came out to celebrate their community. Authorities say no arrests have been made yet, but investigators are pleading for witnesses to come forward. City officials called for calm and unity, but residents are angry, frustrated, and heartbroken. They’ve seen this story before violence strikes, the headlines fade, and justice remains out of reach.

The violence didn’t stop there. In Heidelberg, another homecoming celebration turned tragic. Shots rang out during a local high school event, killing two people and injuring one more. Among the victims was a pregnant woman. An 18-year-old man has been taken in for questioning, but investigators remain tight-lipped about what led to the shooting. Residents are left in mourning, another Mississippi town added to a growing list of communities shattered by senseless violence.

Four shootings. One weekend. All tied to homecoming celebrations meant to unite communities, not destroy them. These tragedies aren’t isolated. They’re part of a larger crisis of frustration, desperation, and easy access to guns. Across Mississippi, communities are on edge. Churches are holding vigils, schools are tightening security, and parents are afraid to let their kids attend events that once symbolized love and pride. City leaders and law enforcement say change is coming, but residents aren’t convinced. Too many candles have been lit, too many funerals held, and too many promises made. Mississippi is tired of mourning during homecoming season. Until something changes, these stories will keep repeating, and the joy that once defined Mississippi’s fall weekends will continue to fade behind flashing blue lights and the sound of sirens.