Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the tragic Dec. 23, 2024, shooting that claimed the life of Newton County High School junior Madisyn A'Miyah Evans.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office, working alongside the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) and Newton Police Department, announced the arrests on Monday, Dec. 30. Sheriff Joedy Pennington described the crime as "a senseless act that took a bright young girl’s life, an act that should not have happened."
Those charged include:
Quintavious Johnson (left) and Jakarie Love (right)
Brandon Shephard (left), Lakeithia Ford (center) and Carlonte Walker (right)
- Quintavious Johnson: Charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, tampering with physical evidence, and capital murder.
- Jakarie Love: Charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle, tampering with physical evidence, and capital murder.
- Brandon Shephard: Charged with accessory before the fact to capital murder and tampering with physical evidence.
- Lakeithia Ford: Charged with hindering prosecution.
- Carlonte Walker: Charged with accessory after the fact to capital murder and tampering with physical evidence
Carlonte Walker turned himself into the Newton County Sheriff's Office according to Sheriff Pennington.
The arrests follow an investigation assisted by Newton Police Chief Randy Patrick, who promised a thorough effort to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice. “We are going to do our due diligence to try and find out who did this,” Chief Patrick said shortly after the incident.
Madisyn A'Miyah Evans, remembered by her school and community as a charismatic honor roll student with exceptional talents in academics, athletics, and vocal performance, was fatally shot on W. Church Street in Newton shortly after 2:00 p.m. on December 23. Police responding to the scene found Evans with a gunshot wound, while another juvenile male present was uninjured.
