581 Lynchings Recorded in Mississippi Since 1882, NAACP Data Shows Amid Case

Jackson police have arrested a second man and charged him with homicide in the death of Tasia Fortune, and detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for a third suspect, according to NBC News.

Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced the arrest at a Tuesday night city council meeting, NBC News reported. NBC affiliate WLBT of Jackson identified the man as Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25. "What I can tell you is, today, we've taken another person into custody and charged them with homicide in this case," Brackney said, according to NBC News.

Who was arrested first in the case?

Jarques Ratliff, 51, was arrested and charged with murder earlier this month, per NBC News. He pleaded not guilty and was denied bond at a court hearing, the outlet reported. Police have said Ratliff had an "association" with Fortune but have not released further details, according to NBC News. Both Ratliff and Lloyd are Black, per the report.

What is the status of the third suspect?

Jackson police have obtained an arrest warrant for a third person connected to the case, NBC News reported, and the U.S. Marshals are assisting in that effort. Brackney told the city council she expects the investigation to widen. "I will guarantee there are actually more arrests to come in this incident," she said, per NBC News. It is unclear whether Lloyd has retained an attorney, the outlet reported.

How was Tasia Fortune found?

Fortune, a Black woman, was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned home in Mississippi in August, according to NBC News. Brackney said Fortune was found "in a hanging position" and declined to elaborate. "And I need to stay with that language as we move this case forward so we do not do anything to jeopardize this case," the chief said, per the report. A motive and Fortune's official cause of death have not been released, NBC News reported.

Why did the case draw national attention?

The case made national headlines within weeks of Fortune's death, driven in part by Mississippi's recorded history of racial violence and by distrust of how police have handled prior death investigations involving Black residents, according to NBC News. The NAACP has recorded 581 public lynchings in Mississippi between 1882 and 1968, more than any other state, per figures cited in the NBC News report. That historical count has shaped scrutiny of the Fortune investigation even as police have not disclosed a motive or classified the manner of death.

What happens next in the investigation?

Jackson police have not said when additional arrests might occur, but Brackney's statement to the city council indicates detectives are actively pursuing further warrants beyond the third suspect already identified, per NBC News. The Jackson Police Department did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment following Lloyd's arrest. No court date for Lloyd has been reported.