Markell B Jackson

Markell B. Jackson, an 18-year-old Black male, was a recent high school graduate with a bright future. An athlete who played safety on the football team and center on the basketball team at LaGrange High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, he was remembered by his school as a "respectful, authentic, and genuine student." On May 20, 2023, he experienced one of his proudest moments when he accepted his high school diploma. His family, friends, and community were honored to be a part of his celebration.

Just four days later, on the evening of Wednesday, May 24, Markell's life was cut short by gunfire. At approximately 7:30 p.m., deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office were called to Huber Park in the 2400 block of 4th Avenue after receiving reports of shots fired. A person who alerted authorities heard several shots and saw a white car fleeing the area. When deputies arrived, they found Markell in the street near the park suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital, but he died from his injuries.

Investigators began working to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. After reviewing surveillance footage from the area, detectives identified a suspect and secured a warrant for the arrest of 18-year-old Demontoriyuana Charles. The warrant, signed by Judge Ronald Ware, listed charges of second-degree murder, aggravated criminal damage to property, and illegal use of a weapon. A bond was set at $680,000.

With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, violent crimes detectives located Demontoriyuana Charles after he agreed to surrender to authorities. He was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on the charges outlined in the warrant. As of the arrest in May 2023, the investigation was continuing, and law enforcement officials stated that more arrests were likely.