Family member describes confrontation that led to deadly Dupree Street shooting

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Jackson Police Department has confirmed an early morning shooting in east Jackson has left one man dead. WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News spoke with a family member of the victim.

Jackson police confirmed Darius Austin, 32, of Jackson died after being shot. Family members said Austin, a father of four, died from a shot to the heart.

Tavaris Golden said the incident that led to his cousin’s death started with an argument and fight late Wednesday night.

“We all just out here having a good time, and they come up here with the trash talk,” Golden said. “Like I said, he start with me and we get into it a couple times, he get into it with somebody else.”

Golden said the fight was physical and that he didn’t know either of the men who crashed their party. Golden says when they left the scene he did too, needing to cool off.

“I just told my cousin I was going to come back and get him — I swear I was just about to come back and get him.”

Police said around 11:45 p.m., gunshots rang out on Dupree Street.

“I get a call, we in the drive-thru, and my cousin is already shot. He’s already not responding,” Golden said. “Situations come, situations go. There shouldn’t be no situation where nobody has to go tell anybody’s parent that their child is gone.”

Golden said he feels responsible for what happened to his cousin, who he said wasn’t involved in the initial fight.

“I apologize all this happened — wasn’t expecting none of this to go this far, and I really apologize.”

Police haven’t released any names of suspects. They ask anyone who may have been present at the time of the shooting or in the area to contact Jackson police at 731-425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at 731-424-TIPS (8477).