Dozens of candles glowed softly and tears fell Monday evening on the campus of Jackson State University, where roughly 200 students, faculty members, and community leaders gathered to mourn two young lives cut short by weekend gun violence. The vigil was organized to remember Jada Henderson, a freshman psychology major from Atlanta who was killed during a mass shooting at a Jackson nightclub approximately 6 miles northeast of the campus.
University President Denise Jones Gregory delivered emotional remarks to the grieving crowd, offering condolences to Henderson’s family and acknowledging the heavy emotional toll the tragedy has taken on the student body. According to Mississippi Today, Gregory told those gathered on the grounds that every member of the campus community shares in the profound sorrow. The weekend gunfire also claimed the life of 20-year-old Lovdai Poindexter of Brandon, a student at Holmes Community College, while leaving six other individuals injured and hospitalized.
Investigators with the Jackson Police Department reported that the attack unfolded when two masked men wearing ski masks entered the nightclub and opened fire. As of Monday evening, law enforcement officials confirmed that no arrests had been made and a definitive motive had not yet been established as the inquiry continues. In the wake of the violence, Jackson State administrators announced that undergraduate classes for Monday and Tuesday were canceled, with graduate-level courses transitioning to online formats.
Students and Leaders Gather to Remember Victims
During the solemn observance on the Administration Tower Lawn at 1400 John R. Lynch St., fellow students stepped forward to share memories and express their devastation. Serenity Wilson, a freshman marketing major, urged the campus community to keep Henderson’s loved ones in their prayers, describing the sudden loss of her peer. Ladorian “Gray” Shelton, a junior creative writing major, added that the shooting reopened painful memories of losing a high school classmate to gun violence.
Local leaders, including Jackson Mayor John Horhn and Police Chief RaShall Brackney, attended the evening gathering to stand alongside grieving students. Mayor Horhn had previously issued a public statement calling for the closure of the nightclub where the shooting occurred. University officials strongly encouraged affected students to utilize campus counseling and support resources to cope with the trauma.
Looking Ahead as the Investigation Continues
As the vigil concluded, President Gregory walked over to a campus bench to spend time with some of Henderson’s friends, recalling the student’s personality. University leadership noted that student safety and psychological well-being remain the highest priorities as campus administrators coordinate with public safety officers and law enforcement.
