Texas Murder Suspect Arrested at Mississippi College Campus
An 18-year-old capital murder suspect was taken into custody Monday at a Mississippi college campus, ending a manhunt that began after a deadly shooting at a Fort Worth house party last summer.
Jaden Grays was arrested without incident at Jones College in Ellisville, Mississippi, where authorities tracked him down following a tip from a local resident. Grays faces charges in the July 21, 2025, shooting deaths of Thomas Cantrell, 18, and Emiliano Serna, 19, at a gathering in southwest Fort Worth, according to authorities who confirmed the arrest.
Cross-State Coordination
The apprehension came after a coordinated effort between multiple law enforcement agencies. A license plate reader operated by the Covington County Sheriff’s Department first flagged Grays’ vehicle, leading officers to the college campus where he was located.
“We are in contact with Texas authorities and will work closely with them to ensure that Jaden Grays’ extradition to face charges moves forward in a smooth and expeditious manner,” said Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin in a statement. “Additionally, we greatly appreciate the assistance of Jones College, their Campus Police Department, and the Covington County Sheriff’s Department in assisting with the apprehension of this wanted person.”
The July shooting took place at a house party on the 7100 block of Avington Way in southwest Fort Worth. Details about what sparked the violence or Grays’ alleged role in the incident haven’t been fully disclosed by investigators.
From Texas to Mississippi
How did a Texas murder suspect end up at a Mississippi college? That remains unclear. Authorities haven’t specified whether Grays was enrolled as a student at Jones College or if he was hiding out on campus.
The arrest was executed by a team including Jones County Sheriff’s Department deputies and campus police officers. Grays is currently being held in Mississippi pending extradition proceedings to return him to Texas, where he’ll face the capital murder charges.
Capital murder is the most serious homicide charge in Texas and can potentially carry the death penalty, though prosecutors haven’t indicated whether they’ll pursue that option in this case.
For the families of Cantrell and Serna, the arrest marks the beginning of what will likely be a lengthy legal process as they seek justice for the two teenagers killed last summer.
As Grays awaits extradition, investigators continue gathering evidence for what promises to be a high-profile case that has now stretched across state lines and captured attention in both Texas and Mississippi communities.
