Brownsville Teen Indicted on Murder Charges in Park Shooting Death
Dequarius Lax faces murder charges in deadly May 8 park shooting that killed teenager Saturah Hayes and injured multiple others in Brownsville.
BROWNSVILLE, TENNESSEE — A teenage suspect has been indicted and arrested in connection with a deadly shooting at a Brownsville park earlier this month that killed one person and injured several others.
Dequarius Lax, born February 9, 2008, was taken into custody on May 27 and booked into the Haywood County Jail without bond following his indictment by a grand jury, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The charges stem from a May 8 shooting at a park in the 900 block of Key Corner Street in Brownsville that resulted in the death of Saturah Hayes, born November 24, 2008.
Multiple Agencies Investigate Fatal Shooting
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation launched the investigation at the request of 28th Judicial District Attorney General Frederick Agee. TBI special agents worked with the Brownsville Police Department, the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, and the U.S. Marshals Service to identify Lax as the alleged shooter.
During the investigation, authorities determined that multiple people were injured in addition to Hayes’ death, though the exact number of victims was not specified in the TBI announcement.
Extensive List of Charges Filed
On May 19, the Haywood County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Lax containing multiple serious charges. He faces one count of First Degree Murder and one count of First Degree Murder in Perpetration of a Crime related to Hayes’ death.
The indictment also includes six counts of Attempted First-Degree Murder, six counts of Employ a Firearm with Intent to go Armed, and six counts of Aggravated Assault involving the use or display of a deadly weapon. Additional charges include Tampering with Evidence and Reckless Endangerment involving a deadly weapon.
The multiple counts suggest authorities believe Lax targeted numerous individuals during the shooting incident at the Brownsville park.
Suspect Held Without Bond
Following his arrest by law enforcement on Monday, Lax remains in custody at the Haywood County Jail with no bond set. The case involved coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies including federal marshals, highlighting the serious nature of the charges.
The TBI emphasized that the charges represent accusations of criminal conduct rather than evidence, and that Lax is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt through the legal process.
The case will proceed through the 28th Judicial District court system under the oversight of Attorney General Agee’s office, which initially requested TBI involvement in the investigation.
