Ladarius Jackson was 17 and from Athens, Texas. Known to friends as LJ or Doolie and remembered as hilarious and kind, he worked at a Sonic in Malakoff. His life ended in a shooting on the night of March 23, 2023, when police found him and 19-year-old Donovan Dodd dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle in the Royal Crest Apartments parking lot on Sybil Lane in Tyler.

An arrest affidavit describes a planned firearm exchange: Ladarius and Dodd met 20-year-old Aaron Johnson to trade a Springfield XD 9mm and $400 for an AR-15. The affidavit says Johnson entered the backseat, the AR-15 was handed over, and a dispute followed. It alleges Ladarius shot Johnson in the leg with the 9mm, Johnson took the pistol and fired multiple rounds, killing Ladarius and Dodd. Johnson was charged with capital murder.

Investigators also charged 18-year-old Nicholas Hudson with two counts of murder and say Hudson coordinated the exchange, and a 19-year-old, Lakimbrick Horn, surrendered and faces capital murder charges; authorities allege both played roles in setting up the exchange with the intent to rob Johnson. The investigation remains active. If anyone has information, contact the Tyler Police Department at (903) 531-1000.