On the night of March 31, 2007, Jair Valencia was shot and killed in Southaven, Mississippi. He had been visiting his brother at the Bradford Park Apartments and was walking back to his own unit at 5722 Arbor Drive when he was confronted by a group of several young Black males. A struggle occurred and witnesses said one assailant fired twice, walked away, then returned and fired three more times into Valencia’s upper torso. Witnesses also reported a dark-colored SUV leaving the area moments after the shooting.

Southaven police responded to a shots fired call around 11:00 p.m. and found Valencia lying in the backseat of his vehicle; he had died of his gunshot wounds. No arrests have been announced and the case later went cold. A reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

If anyone has information about that night, the suspects, or the dark-colored SUV, please contact the Southaven Police Department.