A December 2023 party in the Hannah Heights area of Ethel, Mississippi, ended in gunfire that killed 42-year-old Martell Jackson. The gathering drew people from Attala, Leake, and Holmes counties; one or more groups opened fire, injuring at least three people who were taken to Baptist Attala hospital. Jackson, an Ethel resident, died of his injuries and the Attala County Coroner, Sam Bell, ordered an autopsy.

The Attala County Sheriff’s Office opened a homicide investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Officials say an argument may have sparked the shooting and that investigators identified a suspect, but locating that person remained a challenge. A vehicle possibly connected to the incident was recovered and sent to the State Crime Lab, and the case was transferred to Sheriff-Elect Curtis Pope to continue.

Anyone who was at the party or who has information about the shooting is asked to contact the sheriff’s office to help bring answers for Martell Jackson’s family.