Jackson sees 40% reduction in homicides in first half of 2025 compared to last year
Records from the Clarion Ledger show Jackson reported 36 homicides between January and June 30, 2025, with 31 cases handled by the Jackson Police Department and five worked by the Mississippi Capitol Police.
Last year, the city saw 62 homicides in the same six-month period, with 60 cases investigated by Jackson police and 2 handled by Capitol police.
Wendell Watts, assistant chief of the Patrol Operations Division for the Jackson Police Department, credits violent crime initiatives led by JPD Chief Joseph Wade and partnerships with agencies such as the FBI, Capitol Police and the Hinds County Sheriff's Department for reducing crime in the city.
At a June 27 press conference, Watts emphasized the department's commitment to achieving even greater reductions in crime.
"Chief Wade came out of the gate telling us there's a gang problem in Jackson, and there's a crime problem that we've got going on," Watts said. "We're working in conjunction with everybody from the mayor's office, all the way to the governor's office, to the community. We want everyone involved, because we want the crime rate down."
Details on homicide victims in Jackson in June 2025 are provided below. Ages and spellings of names are based on police statements and court records:
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JPD Public Information Officer Tommie Brown said Carrie Lotasha Fields, 33, was shot on June 10 in the 3600 block of Jayne Avenue and died at the scene. Court records state Fields was shot multiple times.
Police arrested Andre Sawyer, 28, on June 11 in connection to the fatal shooting. Police said the shooting appears to be a domestic situation. Court records show Sawyer was denied bond by a judge at an initial court appearance on June 12.
JPD previously reported that a second person of interest was being sought regarding the case; however, the identity of the individual has not been released by police. The Clarion Ledger's request for updated suspect information was not provided before this publication.
Brown said Keodrick Kincade was shot on June 17 in the 5000 block of Interstate South Frontage Road near Canton Mart Road and died at the scene. Police did not provide Kincade's age to the Clarion Ledger before this publication.
Police arrested and charged D'Juanya Carter, 26, with murder in connection to the shooting. Court records show Carter was denied bond by a judge at an initial court appearance on June 18.
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The Jackson Police Department is searching for a suspect after Troy Howard Jr., 53, was fatally shot multiple times on June 18 in the 1200 block of Gentry Street. Brown said Howard was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center where Howard later died from his injuries.
Brown previously described a suspect to the Clarion Ledger as "a Black male of large stature last seen wearing all black and walking on Livingston Avenue." No identity has been released by police as of this publication.
Jackson police said LaJarvis Ruffin, 30, was shot multiple times and killed on June 19 at the Park Springs Apartments on Shaw Road. Brown previously told the Clarion Ledger, at that time, he had no information on whether the victim was shot inside or outside an apartment.
According to WLBT, Ruffin was changing the locks on his child's mother door because the mother was having issues with the father of her other child. WLBT reported that is when Ruffin's cousin heard gunshots, discovering Ruffin had been fatally shot outside the door.
Police announced on June 25 the arrests of Grejuan Allen, 31, and Jederrion Walton, 28, in connection to the case. Allen faces charges for murder, armed robbery and house burglary. Walton faces a murder charge.
Capitol police said Karah Perkins, the 23-year-old granddaughter of a civil rights leader, was shot on June 22 on East Northside Drive and later died at a hospital. Mississippi Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Bailey Martin said officers responded to a call around 4:40 a.m. and discovered Perkins suffering from a gunshot wound. Perkins' family said Karah died on Monday, June 23, from her injuries.
Martin said police arrested one suspect in connection to the incident but did not identify the suspect before this publication.
Karah Perkins is the granddaughter of civil rights leader, John Perkins. John is a civil rights activist, minister and author known for his advocate work in racial reconciliation, justice and community development. John was born in 1930 in New Hebron, Mississippi — roughly 55 miles south of Jackson.
Karah's family shared a tribute to their loved one on Facebook writing, in-part, "Karah has always been sunshine on earth. And now, by God's grace, she will be sunshine poured out— bringing healing to others and radiating God's love in a way only He could orchestrate. We are heartbroken. But we are not without hope."
The family also shared on Facebook that a memorial service for Karah was to be held at 1 p.m. on July 2 at the New Horizon International Church. According to the family, they have established the Karah Perkins Potter Sunshine Scholarship through the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation.
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Jackson police officials said Deyonia McGee, a 22-year-old woman, died and two suspects were arrested after a shooting occurred at 4:27 a.m. June 24 at the corner of Raymond Road and Siwell Road near the Auto One car business.
According to Wade, McGee and a 16-year-old, who described himself as McGee's boyfriend to police, were walking near the car business when a security guard fired multiple shots at them. McGee died as a result of the shooting.
The security guard was later identified by police as Carl Miller, 60. Police said Miller was arrested and charged with manslaughter. Court records show a judge gave Miller a $500,000 bond.
"Carl Miller did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously kill and slay Deyonia McGee, a human being, by culpable negligence by firing a 'warning shot' at her, striking her in the shoulder and causing her death," a criminal affidavit states.
The 16-year-old, whose identity was not released, was also arrested and charged with murder in the case. Jackson police did not share any additional information as to why the 16-year-old was charged with murder before this publication. A judge gave the teen a $50,000 bond.
The charges were brought forward after authorities consulted with the district attorney's office.
Anyone who has information related to these cases can contact Crime Stoppers at (601) 355-8477 or JPD at (601) 960-1234.
Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS significant drop in murder victims for 2025 since 2024
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