Dequarius "DQ" Lax, 18, of Brownsville, was indicted this week on 22 charges, including first-degree murder, in the killing of Saturah Hayes, 17, at Webb F. Banks Passive Park on May 8
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Credit: The Office of the District Attorney General, 28th Judicial District/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Dequarius “DQ” Lax, 18, of Brownsville, was indicted this week on 22 charges, including first-degree murder, in the killing of Saturah Hayes, 17, at a pre-prom event at Webb F. Banks Passive Park on May 8
- Lax has also been indicted on six counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting six other people who had gathered to take pictures that evening
- Authorities said the U.S. Marshals Service is attempting to take Lax into custody and is seeking the public’s help in locating him
A manhunt is underway for a teenager accused of opening fire at a pre-prom gathering in a park in Brownsville, Tenn., this month, killing a 17-year-old girl and injuring several others, authorities said.
Dequarius "DQ" Lax, 18, of Brownsville, was indicted this week on 22 charges, including first-degree murder, in the killing of Saturah Hayes at Webb F. Banks Passive Park on May 8, the Office of the District Attorney General for the 28th Judicial District announced Thursday, May 22.
Related: Prom Night Mass Shooting Leaves Tennessee Teen Dead, 4 Others Injured
Lax has also been indicted on six counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting six other people at the event, where people had gathered to take pictures that evening.
Credit: Facebook
The U.S. Marshals Service is seeking the public's help in locating Lax, who authorities say "is considered armed and dangerous."
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Prosecutors said anyone who is assisting Lax in avoiding apprehension or harboring him will be charged and prosecuted.
Saturah's mother, Astacia Hayes, mourned the loss of her daughter in a statement on Facebook in which she also shared her last picture of her.
"Why? Why? Why? Would y'all take my baby from me, away from her family and friends," Hayes wrote. "I tried to protect her from stuff like this and the one time I knew she would be ok, her room is empty."
Anyone with information about the case or Lax's whereabouts is asked to contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND or investigator Jimmy Wilson at jdwilson@tndagc.org or 731-855-7813.
