Vertis Lee Cornelius Jr. was a 63-year-old Jackson, Mississippi man described as a devoted son, brother, father and friend who worked for employers including Kroger, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Hinds Community College before running his own small trucking business, V C Trucking. Born December 1, 1955, he remained active in Morning Star Baptist Church and was remembered for generosity, laughter and family gatherings that brought together his many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On the afternoon of June 20, 2020, Jackson police responded to the 3600 block of Sunset Drive for a reported shooting. Cornelius was found by family, suffering multiple gunshot wounds; he later died of those injuries and the death was investigated as a homicide. In the days after the killing investigators released few details, stating there was no motive or suspect information to share and asking anyone in the area that afternoon to contact police or Crime Stoppers. Public reports since then show no announced arrest or charged suspect and the case is treated as unsolved.

If anyone knew Vertis Cornelius or was in the Sunset Drive area that afternoon, can you share information with investigators?