West Lowndes High School Student Jaraquist Cunningham Dies in Artesia Homicide

 Jaraquist Cunningham, an 18-year-old student at West Lowndes High School, was killed in a shooting at a basketball court in Artesia, Mississippi, on October 14, 2026, according to the information released by authorities. His death has left family members, friends, classmates and others in the school community grieving a young life lost. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office has identified the case as a homicide investigation, and officials say work is continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said the incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Authorities have not provided further details in the supplied account about what led to the shooting or what happened immediately before it. Investigators are continuing to collect evidence and follow leads as they work to build a clearer account of the events. Until additional verified information is released, the public record remains limited about the circumstances at the basketball court and the events leading up to Cunningham’s death.

The sheriff’s office announced that 18-year-old Jaquarious Dionta Brooks was arrested in connection with Cunningham’s death. According to Sheriff Hawkins, Brooks was taken into custody after his mother contacted the sheriff’s office and asked to turn her son over to law enforcement. Hawkins said he met with the family in the area and arrested Brooks in connection with the homicide.

Cunningham’s death has affected people beyond his immediate family, including classmates and members of the West Lowndes High School community. Sheriff Hawkins offered condolences to those mourning the loss, describing the death of a young person as a tragic event. No additional personal biography, family statements or details about Cunningham’s interests were included in the initial account. For those who knew him, the loss is now intertwined with the difficult task of grieving while waiting for investigators to establish what happened.

The shooting occurred at a basketball court in Artesia, a location that is central to the incident described by authorities. The sheriff’s office has not released information in the supplied report about the number of people present, whether anyone else was injured, or whether investigators believe there was a specific motive. Detectives continue gathering evidence and documenting witness statements.

The ongoing investigation includes gathering evidence, documenting witness statements and following additional leads. Authorities have not indicated in the supplied information when further updates may be released. The arrest marks a significant development in the case, but the investigation continues as officials work to clarify the sequence of events and establish the evidence relevant to Cunningham’s death. Brooks’s arrest is an allegation-related development, and any criminal case will proceed through the legal system. Additional details should be treated as unconfirmed unless released by authorities or established in court.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office at 662-328-6788 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151. As the Artesia community mourns Cunningham, his family, friends and classmates are facing the loss while investigators continue their work. The information released so far confirms his age, school connection, the reported location and date of the shooting, and Brooks’s arrest in connection with the homicide. Further verified updates may clarify the circumstances surrounding the death and the next steps in the case.