On Christmas Eve 2015, 22-year-old Julian Gayten was found shot at his home on North Jackson Street in Brookhaven, Mississippi and was pronounced dead at 7:18 a.m. A second young man, 17-year-old Jaquarius Jones, was found collapsed on nearby Flora Street and also died. Investigators say the shootings arose from a planned robbery.

Police reports say 17-year-old Marionne Shlik Keys had been communicating with both Gayten and Jones. Authorities believe Keys was at Gayten’s house while texting Jones about a plan to rob him; the confrontation ended with Gayten and Jones apparently shooting one another. Keys was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy after the fact to commit murder; bond was set at $50,000 and she was held in the Lincoln County jail.

Family members deny any drug involvement and describe Gayten as a humble, church‑active young man. Law enforcement, including Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins and District Attorney Dee Bates, say they believe others were involved and have urged witnesses to come forward, noting that insufficient evidence has so far prevented further arrests or convictions. If anyone has information that could help bring full closure, please share it with investigators.