Mom Dying Alongside 5-12 months-Previous Son in Triple Murder Texted Killer’s Identify: Police

• An Alabama girl who was killed in a triple murder texted the identify of her alleged killer simply moments earlier than her loss of life
• Jacorrian McGregor, 25, is going through a capital homicide cost for the July 2024 deaths of 28-year-old Arkia “Kia” Berry, her 5-year-old son Landyn Brooks and her boyfriend Eric Ashley Jr., 28
• Police declare that McGregor shot all three victims whereas they have been in a automobile collectively final 12 months

An Alabama girl who was killed in a triple murder texted one phrase in her ultimate moments that aided detectives in her homicide investigation — the identify of the person suspected of killing her.

In accordance with a report from native outlet AL.com, 28-year-old Arkia “Kia” Berry texted the phrase “Jaco” to a good friend simply moments earlier than her loss of life in July 2024 — referring to 25-year-old Jacorrian McGregor, who was arrested for her homicide.

McGregor is going through a capital homicide cost for the taking pictures deaths of Arkia, her 5-year-old son Landyn Brooks, and her boyfriend Eric Ashley Jr., 28.

Final 12 months, native shops together with CBS 42, AL.com and WVTM13 reported that police initially acquired a 911 name a couple of automobile accident within the Echo Highlands neighborhood of Birmingham. All three victims have been discovered lifeless from gunshot wounds within the automobile.

Throughout a preliminary listening to on Thursday, April 17, Birmingham murder Det. Jarvelius Tolliver testified to a decide that investigators used proof discovered on each Arkia and McGregor’s telephones to hyperlink him to the case — and shared details about precisely how the person, girl and baby died.

Per AL.com, Tolliver mentioned that Arkia had been driving the automobile, her boyfriend was within the entrance passenger seat and Arkia’s 5-year-old son was within the again seat on the driving force’s facet. Arkia was discovered mendacity throughout the middle console, and between 20 to 30 shell casings have been recovered on the scene.

Earlier than her loss of life, Arkia texted the phrase “Jaco,” Tolliver added, noting that this was McGregor’s nickname. Cellphone data obtained by detectives additionally present that McGregor’s pals had been texting him concerning the taking pictures, telling him to “lay low, keep out of sight, say hidden.”

“She texted his identify proper earlier than she died,” Tolliver mentioned, per AL.com.

Officers have been additionally investigating the theft of a inexperienced Kia, he added, which was set ablaze quickly after the taking pictures and was additionally seen driving close to Arkia’s automobile on safety digital camera footage obtained by police.

Per the shops, the taking pictures happened on July 13, 2024. Birmingham police acquired a 911 name at round 5 p.m. native time that day, and located a automobile lined with bullet holes quickly after.

“We imagine some type of interplay happened between the occupants of the victims’ car and the suspects’ car,” police officer Truman Fitzgerald informed AL.com final 12 months.

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McGregor was not arrested till Feb. 24, per Birmingham police. Officers shared on the time of his arrest that the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Process Power had contributed to the investigation. Investigators haven’t shared the precise nature of Arkia, Ashley and McGregor’s relationship.

In accordance with AL.com, Arkia was a hairstylist, and Landyn performed soccer and was set to start kindergarten within the fall.

Aniya Berry, Arkia’s cousin, beforehand informed WVTM 13 that the mom and son have been like “two peas in a pod.”

“She cherished her child a lot. All the pieces he needed, he had. All the pieces he wanted, he had. She took care of her child the best way she was alleged to,” Aniya informed the outlet.

“Anytime we’ve got a murder, it impacts us. However when you’ve got a baby, it impacts you otherwise,” officer Fitzgerald added on the time of the taking pictures. “On this case, we’ve got a small, school-aged baby that obtained caught up within the violence that’s happening in our metropolis. We have now to ask the query, ‘When is sufficient going to be sufficient?’ ”

McGregor is at the moment being held within the Jefferson County Jail and was not given bond. Following his courtroom look on Thursday, a decide dominated that there was sufficient proof for his case to maneuver ahead.