Tyron Arthus

Tyron N. Arthus, a 24-year-old Black man from Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, is remembered by his family as a loyal and loved person. His mother, Marie Arthus, described him as not a bad person or a bad kid, and his godmother, Marie Civil, said he was loved and is missed. His life was cut short in a shocking act of violence on a South Florida highway, leaving his family heartbroken and searching for justice.

In the early morning hours of Friday, October 8, 2021, a car was traveling eastbound on Interstate 595 in Davie. Inside were Tyron Arthus and 17-year-old Marcus Ramone Cooper Jr. of Miramar. For reasons that remain unknown to investigators, Cooper allegedly ordered Arthus out of the vehicle on the side of the highway near Hiatus Road. There, just before 1:30 a.m., Arthus was shot multiple times and left for dead on the shoulder of the road. The Florida Highway Patrol responded to a report of a person lying on the highway, and Davie Fire Rescue pronounced Arthus deceased at the scene.

The investigation was quickly handed over to the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) Homicide Unit. Detectives determined that Arthus and the teenage suspect knew each other, and may have even considered themselves friends at one point, though the motive for the shooting remained unclear. The investigation led them to identify Marcus Ramone Cooper Jr., the son of R&B singer Marcus Cooper Sr., known professionally as Pleasure P of the group Pretty Ricky.

On November 1, 2021, a Broward County judge issued an arrest warrant for Cooper on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm. A month after the killing, on November 10, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony held a press conference alongside Tyron Arthus's family to announce the warrant and ask for the public's help in locating the suspect. Sheriff Tony described the crime as a "horrific murder," stating, "Leaving someone to die on the road is an atrocity we can't accept." He issued a direct appeal to the fugitive: "You still have an opportunity to do what's right, you still have an opportunity to turn yourself in."

At the press conference, Tyron's grieving mother made an emotional plea for justice. "For them to take my son's life, and gun him down, left him like a dog on the side of the road, that wasn't fair," Marie Arthus said through tears. "Nobody deserve this, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." Addressing the suspect directly, she added, "You took him, but you cannot take his soul. I'm going to pray for you." His family said they had no hatred in their hearts, only a desire for closure and justice.

In the days following the public announcement, Pleasure P addressed the allegations against his son in videos posted to social media. While stating he was praying for the victim's family, he also defended his son, saying "innocent until proven guilty" and questioning the circumstances of the incident. He vowed to hire the best lawyers to "get to the bottom of this."

As of the latest available reports from November 2021, the case remains unsolved. Marcus Ramone Cooper Jr. is still at large and is considered armed and dangerous. The Broward Sheriff's Office has vowed to continue the search until he is brought into custody. "I don’t care where he’s at, whether it be in South Florida or Maine,” Sheriff Tony said. “He committed a crime in Broward County, and we’re gonna bring him back here." Authorities are asking anyone with information on Cooper's whereabouts to call BSO Homicide Detective Wilson DeJesus at 954-321-4289 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $5,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest.