Clarion Ledger records show Jackson has seen a total of 92 homicides since the start of 2024, with the majority of the victims identified as Black men.
Of the 92 victims, only one person’s identity remains unknown to the Clarion Ledger since MBI — that is investigating the case — has yet to release the details of that homicide.
The Clarion Ledger analysis found that approximately 86% (78) of the 91 identified victims were men, while 14% (13) of the victims were women.
According to the Clarion Ledger’s data, the victims’ identities further show a stark contrast in racial demographics impacted by violent crime as of Oct. 1, 2024.
Descriptions of each victim showed at least 82% of the male victims were Black, 5% were white, 4% were Hispanic and 3% were Indian. Six percent of the male victims’ race is unknown at this time.
The Black population of Jackson is around 83%.
The race of the 13 female homicide victims are: seven Black; three white; and three Hispanic.
During a Sept. 16 press conference, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said the police department will have a police academy for citizens and clergy, plus partnering with Jackson State University for a crime summit in an effort to curb crime.
“I have tasked my team with a three-month blitz of community outreach here in the city of Jackson. Because I know, even with our limited resources, we have to do more with less,” Wade said. “We’ve got to show these young men there’s a better way besides gangs and drugs. There’s a better way because high school will only last so long. They’ve got to move into the real world. And the real world is not about who can shoot a neighborhood or kill some innocent person, a baby, a child or a grandmother.”
Chief Wade touts police successes: Homicides in Jackson see a sharp decline by the end of August 2024.
In September, there were 11 murder victims in Jackson. That number is subject to change once the Mississippi Department of Public Safety reports, if any, homicides that are investigated by Capitol Police and MBI.
Below are details on each murder victim for September in Jackson. The spellings of each victims’ names and their ages are based on court records and police statements:
Gregory Bowen
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Jackson police said Gregory Bowen, 60, was fatally shot Sept. 1 in the 1600 block of Raymond Road at Chapel Ridge Apartments. Bowen died at the scene.
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On Sept. 10, police arrested Phillip Owens, 29, in connection to the case. Owens faces a murder charge. According to court records filed Sept. 16, a judge set Owen’s bond at $750,000.
Louise Banks Tornes
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Jackson police said Lousie Banks Tornes, 63, died around 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 4 in the 900 block of Carver Street. Officers discovered Banks-Tornes had been physically assaulted and died from blunt force trauma. Court documents state Banks beat Tornes with “an unknown object” at 905 Carver Street.
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On Sept. 7, JPD Precinct 3 officers and the Action Unit arrested Jerry Banks, 42, for the murder of his mother. Banks faces charges for murder, burglary of an occupied dwelling and domestic aggravated assault in connection to the case. Police said before officers had arrived, Banks attempted to assault other family members and fled the scene. A search warrant for Banks was issued. According to court records filed Sept. 16, Banks was denied bond and deemed a “flight risk.”
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Court documents also state Banks kicked in the entry door and entered 910 Carver Street, the dwelling house of his grandmother, “Henrine Brown, with the intent to commit a crime therein by attempting to stab her with a knife as she ran and hid in a closet.” Records state Banks placed a knife against Brown’s throat.
Carderius Hathorn
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Jackson police said Carderius Hathorn, 21, was shot around 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 in the 100 block of Cedars of Lebanon. Officers found Hathorn dead inside a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds. No suspect information had been released at the time of this publication.
Jackson nears 80 murder victims in July: How many gas station, convenience store murders so far in 2024?
Kasim Hassan Turner
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Jackson police said Kasim Hassan Turner, 29, was fatally shot Sept. 5 on Maddox Road and TV Road in South Jackson. Turner’s body was discovered on the road. No suspect information had been released at the time of this publication.
Susana Resendiz Mendoza
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Jackson police said Susana Resendiz Mendoza, 30, was shot to death around 9:47 p.m. on Sept. 9 in the 500 block of Beasley Road at the OYO Townhouse in north Jackson.
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Police are actively searching for Reynaldo Resendiz Mendoza, 34, the suspect in the case. Police said Reynaldo is “considered armed and dangerous.” If anyone knows his whereabouts, they are asked to contact law enforcement.
Deandre Jamarcus McDonald
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Jackson police said Deandre Jamarcus McDonald, 23, was stabbed to death around 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 12 in the 200 block of West McDowell Road.
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On the same day, police arrested Anthony Hawkins, 24, in connection to the case. Hawkins faces a murder charge.
See details on why: Carly Madison Gregg sentenced to life for murdering her mother is seeking a new trial
Randy Brown
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Jackson police said Randy Brown, 37, was shot around 6 p.m. on Sept. 13 in the 100 block of Woody Drive in South Jackson. The suspect’s vehicle is a brown SUV. Police do not have an any additional information on a suspect at this time.
Jaden Morgan
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Jackson police said Jaden Morgan, 17, was shot during a carjacking on Sept. 13 in the 4800 block of Watkins Drive in Northwest Jackson. His vehicle, a 2009 gray Honda Accord with a black bumper, was taken. He was approached by masked individuals demanding his car, then was subsequently shot “multiple times.”
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Police issued a Sept. 19 press release stating officers arrested Jesse Watts III and Jordan Wilson, both 16 years old, in connection to the case. Both teens face a capital murder charge. Police expect to make additional arrest in this case.
Marquiez Scott
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Jackson police said Marquiez Scott, 29, was shot multiple times on Sept. 15 in the 3100 block of Booker Street. Police said Scott attempted to flee the location, with his vehicle coming to a rest in Pearl on U.S. Highway 80 where he died. No suspect has been identified, but a possible suspect vehicle was announced, a white pick-up truck.
More details on how: Murders increased in north portions of Jackson compared to previous months
Robert Lee Horton
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Jackson police said Robert Lee Horton, 37, was shot multiple times on Sept. 15 in the 3200 block of Capitol Street. A “person or persons of interest” has been identified. No additional details had been released as of publication time for this story.
Margaret Washington
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Jackson police said Margaret Washington, 58, was stabbed to death on Sept. 23 in the 3400 block of Exchange Drive in South Jackson. According to Wade, the mother of three sons was found by a family member dead with multiple stab wounds in her bedroom. Wade said her vehicle was stolen by the alleged suspect and later recovered in South Jackson. A suspect has not been identified at the time of this publication.
Anyone with information about any of the homicides can contact JPD at 601-960-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-8477.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Who are the victims in Jackson MS homicides in 2024?
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