TUNICA, COUNTY, Miss. — A suspect in a triple shooting who was later found dead near the crime scene had a history of domestic violence charges, records show.

Monday night, the Tunica County Sheriff’s Office found a body in a field that they believe is the suspect in that shooting, 42-year-old Markello Braxton.

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Deputies said Braxton shot and killed 30-year-old Nykeria Jude and wounded two others, including his 6-year-old daughter and 24-year-old son.

WREG looked into Braxton’s history and found seven domestic disturbance calls made to the Tunica County Sheriff’s Office involving Braxton and his girlfriend, Nykeria Jude, at their Soliel Drive home address.

The first call was July 28, 2015, and the most recent call came on March 10 of this year.

There was a manhunt for Braxton before the sheriff’s office stumbled on a dead body in a field that had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. 

We have learned good news in this case, though — Braxton’s 6-year-old daughter, Marlaysia Braxton, who he shared with Nykeria Jude, left the hospital Tuesday and is in stable condition. Marquavious Young, Braxton’s 24-year-old son, was released from the hospital on Sunday.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post that deputies from the Shelby County, DeSoto County, and Tunica County Sheriff’s Offices provided a police escort, ensuring the child’s safe return to her family.

Marquavious Young’s spokesperson and Angela and Leon, Marlaysia’s grandparents, said the following in a statement:

“On July 11, 2025, our family faced an unimaginable loss with the passing of Nykeria Jude. Both Nykeria and Markello were loving parents to Marlaysia, and Markello was also the father to Marquavious. In a heartbreaking turn of events, both children suffered injuries at the hands of their father.

On July 15, 2025, the discovery of Markello’s body near his home left families and friends grappling with a whirlwind of emotions, from sorrow to confusion. In this difficult time, we ask for your prayers and understanding as we begin to heal from the physical and emotional scars of this tragedy.

We want to emphasize the crucial importance of mental health and the need to take domestic violence seriously. Let us come together to foster a community that prioritizes safety, understanding, and compassion.”

They said that after Marlaysia and Marquavious were released from the hospital after undergoing surgery, and are now recovering.

“While the road ahead may be long and filled with obstacles, we are hopeful and determined to overcome them together,” they said.

They asked the community to unite and advocate for mental health awareness and ensure the safety of families affected by violence.

“I miss her so much, God love everybody, amen,” said Marlaysia.

“I felt so good, made me want to cry for all the love they showed right here around my house,” said Angela Walls, grandmother.

With both parents now gone, the family says Marlaysia will be safe.

“She was a great person, inside and out. I mean she had a smile to light up the room in every dim space or place,” said Anna Brown, family friend.

The family says their focus is on Marlaysia and remembering a mother who made anyone feel at home.

“We all gone miss her, her family is mine. Everyone who came across her became family with her,” said Brown. “You know it wasn’t a friend, it was blood, so long live my girl. She will truly be missed.”

We spoke to a local resident who was in disbelief about the shooting, saying Markello was a “coward.”

“I don’t honor doing that to women, especially somebody that’s kind and has a sweet heart,” neighbor Latorian Henley said.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the family.