JACKSON, Miss. — The Jackson Police Department is investigating a deadly overnight shooting that left one person dead and two others injured following an altercation in a parking lot off Interstate 55. The victim has been identified as Alana Duck, 19, of Brandon. The shooting occurred at approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, in the 5100 block of I-55 North — an area known for its concentration of nightlife venues, hotels, and restaurants.
According to the Jackson Police Department (JPD), officers responded to reports of a shooting and arrived at the scene to find that a physical altercation involving several males had taken place in the parking lot of The Hideaway, a popular late-night establishment. During this altercation, officials said, gunfire was exchanged. When the chaos subsided, one young woman was dead, two others were wounded, and investigators were left piecing together what had happened in the early morning hours.
The Victim: Alana Duck, 19, of Brandon
The Hinds County Coroner’s Office, led by Coroner Jeramiah Howard, later identified the victim as Alana Duck, a 19-year-old from Brandon, a suburban community approximately 10 miles east of Jackson. Duck was found inside a Black Honda Accord suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Family and friends have begun to remember Duck as a vibrant young woman with a bright future. According to her aunt, Shantrice Duck, Alana had recently graduated from Brandon High School and was enrolled in a nursing program at Hinds Community College.
“Alana was the baby of the family — the youngest of four, the one we all spoiled,” Shantrice Duck said in a tearful phone interview. “She wanted to be a nurse because she loved helping people. She volunteered at nursing homes. She babysat for free. She had the biggest heart. And now she’s gone because someone decided to pull a trigger in a parking lot.”
Friends described Duck as funny, loyal, and the kind of person who could make anyone feel welcome. She loved music, dancing, and spending time with her nieces and nephews. Her social media accounts are filled with photos of her laughing with friends, posing in her nursing scrubs, and celebrating birthdays.
“She didn’t deserve this,” said best friend Maya Thompson. “She wasn’t involved in any drama. She wasn’t looking for trouble. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and now her family has to plan a funeral. It’s not fair. It’s just not fair.”
The Scene: 5100 Block of I-55 North and The Hideaway
The 5100 block of I-55 North is a busy commercial corridor in north Jackson, home to numerous restaurants, hotels, and nightlife venues. The Hideaway is a well-known establishment in the area, described on its social media pages as a lounge and hookah bar that features live DJs and late-night hours.
According to police, the shooting did not occur inside the venue but rather in the parking lot following a physical altercation involving several males. It remains unclear whether Duck and the two injured victims were participants in the altercation or innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
“When a physical fight escalates to gunfire in a crowded parking lot at 1 a.m., the risk to innocent people is extremely high,” said retired JPD captain Marcus Williams, speaking generally about such incidents. “Bullets don’t discriminate. They hit whoever is in the path. In this case, they hit a 19-year-old young woman who should be starting her summer break, not lying in a morgue.”
JPD officers who arrived at the scene found the parking lot in disarray. Shell casings were scattered across the asphalt. The Black Honda Accord — Duck’s vehicle, according to family members — had bullet holes in the driver’s side door and window. The two additional victims who had suffered gunshot wounds were transported to local hospitals by American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance crews. Their conditions have not been released, nor have their names or ages.
The Altercation: What Police Know So Far
According to the preliminary investigation, a physical altercation involving several males began inside or just outside The Hideaway and then spilled into the parking lot. During the altercation, at least two individuals — possibly more — drew firearms and exchanged gunfire.
“This was not a random act of violence,” a JPD spokesperson said. “The individuals involved were known to one another. The altercation was not a stranger-on-stranger incident. However, that does not diminish the tragedy of a 19-year-old losing her life.”
Police have not released descriptions of any suspects, nor have they indicated whether any arrests have been made. It is unclear whether the shooters were among the injured victims transported to hospitals or whether they fled the scene.
“We are following multiple leads,” the spokesperson added. “We are reviewing surveillance footage from The Hideaway and neighboring businesses. We are interviewing witnesses. We are asking anyone who was in that parking lot early Sunday morning to come forward, even if they think what they saw was insignificant.”
Hinds County Coroner’s Office: Identification and Next Steps
Hinds County Coroner Jeramiah Howard confirmed the identity of Alana Duck and stated that an autopsy would be performed to officially determine the cause and manner of death. While the cause is obviously a gunshot wound, the autopsy will document the precise trajectory of the bullet, the organs affected, and other forensic details that may assist investigators.
“Our hearts go out to the family of Alana Duck,” Coroner Howard said in a brief statement. “A 19-year-old with her whole life ahead of her — this is a tragedy for her family, for Brandon, and for Jackson. We are working closely with JPD to ensure that every piece of evidence is preserved and documented.”
Duck’s body has been transported to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for autopsy. Results are expected within several weeks, though preliminary findings may be released sooner. The family has requested privacy as they make funeral arrangements.
The Broader Context: Gun Violence in Jackson
The death of Alana Duck adds to a troubling statistic in Mississippi’s capital city. According to Jackson Police Department data, there have been 28 homicides in Jackson so far in 2026, compared to 32 during the same period in 2025. While the numbers have decreased slightly, gun violence remains a persistent and heartbreaking reality for many Jackson residents.
“This is a young woman — a teenager — who was shot and killed in a parking lot because a fight broke out,” said Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba in a statement released Sunday afternoon. “This is unacceptable. We must do more to prevent violence before it starts. We must interrupt conflicts before they escalate to gunfire. And we must hold accountable those who choose to resolve disputes with bullets.”
Community activists have called for increased police presence in the I-55 North corridor, particularly during late-night hours when bars and lounges are closing. They have also called for conflict resolution programs and mental health support for young people who may be at risk of violence.
“Alana Duck should be alive today,” said community organizer Rev. Dr. James Green. “She should be studying for her nursing exams. She should be laughing with her friends. She should be planning her summer. Instead, her mother is picking out a casket. This has to stop. We have to stop it together.”
How the Public Can Help
The Jackson Police Department is urging anyone with information related to the shooting to come forward. Investigators are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who witnessed the physical altercation, saw individuals with firearms, or has knowledge of any vehicles fleeing the scene.
“We need the public’s help,” a JPD spokesperson said. “Someone out there knows who fired those shots. Someone out there saw something. We are asking that person to do the right thing — for Alana, for her family, and for this community.”
Tips can be submitted directly to the Jackson Police Department at (601) 960-1604. Callers can speak with an investigator or leave a voicemail, which will be returned during business hours.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (601) 355-TIPS (8477). Callers to Crime Stoppers do not have to provide their names and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500 if their information leads to an arrest.
Tips can also be submitted online through the Crime Stoppers website or via the P3 Tips mobile app, which is available for free download on iOS and Android devices.
The Hideaway’s Response
The management of The Hideaway has not yet released a public statement regarding the shooting. However, the establishment’s social media pages have been inactive since the incident, and several patrons have reported that the venue was closed on Sunday night.
Repeated calls to The Hideaway’s listed phone number went unanswered. It is unclear whether the establishment will face any legal consequences or increased scrutiny from city officials, who have the authority to revoke business licenses for venues that repeatedly host violent incidents.
“This is a wake-up call for every business that operates late-night hours in Jackson,” Mayor Lumumba said. “We support responsible nightlife. But we will not tolerate venues that become flashpoints for violence. We are reviewing our options.”
A Family’s Grief: Remembering Alana
As the investigation continues, the family of Alana Duck is left to plan a funeral for a 19-year-old who should have had decades ahead of her. Her mother, Lisa Duck, released a brief statement through the family’s pastor.
“Alana was my baby. She was my heart. She was kind, she was smart, and she was so excited about becoming a nurse. Now I have to bury her. I don’t have words. I just want justice. I want the people who did this to be held accountable. And I want other mothers to never feel this pain.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been established by family friends to assist with funeral expenses and to support Duck’s younger siblings. As of this publication, the fund had raised approximately $5,000 of its $20,000 goal.
“Any amount helps,” the campaign organizer wrote. “Alana gave so much to everyone around her. Now it’s our turn to give back — to help her family lay her to rest and to show them that this community cares.”
Conclusion: A Life Cut Short
Alana Duck was 19 years old. She wanted to be a nurse. She loved her family. She had friends who adored her. And she is dead because someone chose to fire a gun in a crowded parking lot after a fight.
The Jackson Police Department continues to investigate. No arrests have been made. The two injured victims remain hospitalized. And the family of Alana Duck waits — for answers, for justice, and for the strength to say goodbye.
“She was more than a statistic,” her aunt Shantrice said. “She was a daughter. She was a sister. She was a friend. She was a future nurse. She was loved. And we will not let her be forgotten.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Jackson Police Department at (601) 960-1604 or Crime Stoppers at (601) 355-TIPS (8477).
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