Justin Body, 18, was shot and killed at Leavell Woods Park in Jackson, Mississippi, on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The shooting happened at about 7:30 p.m.; police described the death as the result of gun violence and the Robbery-Homicide Unit opened an investigation.

By the morning of April 26 detectives had identified a suspect, 19-year-old Ladarius Evans. Evans was taken into custody and charged with murder and with tampering with evidence. On April 27 a municipal court judge set combined bond at $600,000, with $500,000 for the murder count and $100,000 for the tampering charge. The investigation into the circumstances of Body’s death is ongoing.

If anyone was at Leavell Woods Park that evening or has information about what happened, please come forward.