Charges dropped against two more arrested in connection with 2023 shooting death of JSU student

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Of the four people arrested in connection with the 2023 shooting death of Jackson State University student Jaylen Burns, just one is still facing charges.

On Friday, the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that a grand jury declined to indict Marquis Scales and Jamison Kelly in the case.

The news comes months after the two were arrested along with Elisha Brown and Ziquae Amos for their alleged role in the shooting.

Brown was released in April. She had been charged with accessory after the fact and hindering prosecution in connection with Burns’ 2023 death.

The grand jury did take action on Amos. However, it was not known what action was taken. He previously was charged with murder.

[READ: Charges dismissed against woman arrested in JSU shooting death]

Burns was shot during an altercation at the University Pointe Apartments in October 2023. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Jason Burns, Jaylen’s father, says the lack of communication from investigators has made an already painful situation worse.

“I feel like they should all still be locked up,” Burns said. “They were all there. If there were any other people involved, they should all be locked up. They shouldn’t be able to walk around the streets when they were there when Jaylen got murdered. And nobody said anything.”

Burns says he has repeatedly tried to reach the victim’s advocate assigned to the case, Bernard McLendon, but has never received a response.

“I’ve been calling constantly trying to get a hold of the victim’s advocate. He never called back — ever. I’ve left numerous voice messages, sent emails, everything, and I don’t get any response,” Burns said.

The Jackson State University Police Department initially arrested Joshua Brown and Kelly in connection with the case.

However, a 3 On Your Side investigation revealed Joshua Brown, Elisha’s brother, was not in Jackson at the time of the shooting.

[READ: Man falsely accused of killing JSU student suing school, others in federal court]

Kelly was released shortly after that but was arrested again in November 2025 and charged with accessory after the fact.

Scales was initially charged with murder and denied bond in Hinds County Court in January. However, sources say he was released from the Hinds County Detention Center in February.

Kelly had been given an unsecured $50,000 bond in February. It was not clear when he was released.

Charges against Elisha Brown were dropped in late April. Court records reviewed by WLBT showed her case was not presented to the grand jury and the statute of limitations on both charges had run out.

For Burns’ father, who lives in Illinois, nearly 900 miles away, the distance has made the fight for answers even harder.

“It just makes it worse knowing that I feel like he’s just looked at as like another young Black boy that was killed. And it’s not a big deal. But it’s a huge deal. This was our son,” Burns said.

On April 30, Circuit Judge Damon Stevenson set bond for Amos at $250,000. As a condition of release, Amos would be required to submit to GPS monitoring and have an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

He also is prohibited from being present on the Jackson State campus and from contacting witnesses or family members of the victim.

Amos’ photo could not be found using the inmate search tool on the county’s website, meaning he likely has bonded out.

“I don’t think it’s right, the way that the justice system works there. There’s no way that Jaylen can get murdered on a college campus and this is all we get,” Burns said.

See our previous coverage of the JSU murder investigation here.

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