In a grim turn of events, the slaying of James Dotson Jr.—a respected sergeant with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office—has taken a critical step toward resolution with the arrest of Ladarien Tyrese Jones, 26, in Wicksburg. The capture comes after a tense multi‑agency investigation and months of community concern.
On the evening of Sunday, November 2, in the 1700 block of Dorgan Street in Jackson, Dotson was found dead inside his home from multiple gunshot wounds. Officials later revealed the shooting occurred while he was off duty, at a residence often described as part of his personal space rather than a work location.
A chilling twist emerged when investigators found that Dotson’s personal vehicle—a gray 2020 Dodge Challenger—had been stolen from his home in the wake of the killing. The vehicle was later recovered Tuesday in the parking lot of an apartment complex in north Jackson and processed for evidence.
By mid‑week, authorities had zeroed in on Jones. On Wednesday, he was taken into custody at the Deluxe Inn on North Frontage Road in Vicksburg, with the joint effort of the Jackson Police Department, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Jones now faces charges of murder and auto theft in connection with the incident. Investigators say the stolen Challenger and surveillance video played a key role in building the case against him.
In his eight years with the HCSO, Sgt. Dotson was widely described as a selfless officer who carried his sense of service beyond the badge. “His presence was a source of strength and stability,” Sheriff Tyree Jones stated, and added that Dotson “exemplified the very best of corrections—steadfast in duty, generous in spirit, and respected by all.”
As the community around Jackson grapples with the loss of one of its own, law‑enforcement voices are clear: the danger officers face doesn’t end when they leave the shift. Dotson’s death serves as a sharp reminder of that reality. Meanwhile, authorities urge anyone with information—no matter how small—to step forward as the investigation continues. Signs of coordinated multi‑agency work—including the rapid arrest—offer some solace, yet the sorrow remains palpable in the halls of the HCSO and beyond.
