Marion mourns death of 21 year old shot while trying to break up a dispute

The town of Marion is reeling after the tragic death of 21-year-old Jayden Tubbs, a young man described by many as a beacon of kindness and respect, who was fatally shot Sept. 14 while trying to break up a dispute over the weekend. 

Tubbs’ death marks the first homicide in Marion and the second in Perry County in 2025.  

According to District Attorney Robert Turner Jr., Tubbs was not involved in the altercation but stepped in as a peacemaker. Gunfire erupted, and Tubbs was struck multiple times.

He died at the scene, just hours before he was scheduled to begin his first trucking delivery for his father’s company, a career he had been eagerly preparing for. 

Tubbs was known for his warm demeanor, polite manners and positive outlook, according to Turner.  

“He was a ‘yes sir, no ma’am’kind of young man,” Turner said. “You don’t see that often anymore.”  

While homicide numbers are down across the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Turner emphasized that “the last murder was one too many.” He called Tubbs’ death a “clarion call” for renewed community vigilance. 

Turner noted that although numbers are decreasing in the Fourth Circuit, which includes Dallas, Wilcox, Perry, Hale and Bibb counties, the climate remains volatile. 

Dallas County has recorded “eight or nine homicides this year, all within Selma,” according to Turner. Wilcox County recently saw a juvenile killed by another juvenile, bringing its total to three.  

Tubbs’ death underscores the urgency of Turner’s Project Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate homicides across the five-county circuit. Turner hopes the tragedy will galvanize residents to monitor their children’s activities, foster open conversations and seek mental health support when it’sneeded. 

Rather than focusing solely on perpetrators, Turner honors victims like Tubbs. “We need to highlight the beauty and the light in some of the victims,” he said. “We cannot continue to take promising young lives.” 

Turner urges the public to attend the next Project Zero stakeholders meeting on Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. at the Dallas County Courthouse, 105 Lauderdale St. in Selma. “If you want to see change and become involved, there’s a space and a place for you,” he said. 

As the community grieves, Tubbs’ legacy as a helper and role model serves as a poignant reminder of what’s at stake and what can be saved.