Arkia “Kia” Berry died from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle next to her son and boyfriend, but before she died, the mother sent a one-word text to a friend: “Jaco.” Investigators now believe it was her way of telling them who killed her. Jacorian Deshawn McGregor, 25, now faces capital murder charges in the July 2024 triple homicide of Berry, her 5-year-old son, Landyn Brooks, and her boyfriend, 28-year-old Eric Ashley Jr.
McGregor reportedly uses the name “Jaco” as a nickname, and Berryâs text helped lead police to her alleged killer.
McGregor allegedly opened fire, killing the family around 5 p.m. on July 13, 2024, in Birmingham, Alabama. Per AL.com, police arrived on the scene of a reported car crash short time later, and found a blue Nissan Maxima riddled with bullets and Berry, Brooks, and Ashley dead inside. Investigators quickly began piecing together what happened that fateful night.
Birmingham homicide Detective Jarvelius Tolliver, explained the sequence of events in a hearing, per AL.com. Surveillance video shows McGregor entering the subdivision in a green Kia Soul around 5:07 p.m. Berry arrives a minute later, driving the blue Nissan. At 5:09 p.m., the mother allegedly texted the word âJaco.â The Kia then quickly fled the scene. âNo other cars came out after that,” Tolliver said.
A minute later, at 5:10 p.m., Berryâs carâs crash detection system automatically contacted 911, per Tollive. When police arrived, they found the three victims dead and between 20 and 30 shell casings at the scene.
The following day, East Precinct officers responded to a car fire and found the Kia Soul ablaze. After extinguishing the fire, two trucks took the car to an impound lot, and investigators traced it to its owner. The owner reportedly told police someone stole her car. âShe stated it had been stolen about five or six days before,â Tolliver said, âbut she never reported it stolen.â
As the investigation continued, police found Ashelyâs last call to a person saved in the phone as “Jaco.â On the day of the shooting, video was captured of the Kia appearing to travel accompanied by a Mercedes. Investigators used a license plate reader to track the Mercedes owner, who reportedly told police he had spent the day with McGregor, and that he had admitted to him that he shot the victims.
In his testimony, Tolliver alleged that McGregor had removed most text messages from his phone on July 13. âBut he was having several conversations with people where they were talking about the incident that had taken place,â Tolliver said, âand there were people telling him to lay low, stay out of sight, stay hidden.â
McGregorâs attorney, John Robbins, claims his client did not kill the victims, and that no video shows him shooting anyone. When asked if the crime had any witnesses Robbins said, âI would say that Miss Berry was a witness. She texted his name right before she died.â
But texting the name doesnât prove anything, according to the defense. âThat doesnât mean he was the shooter,â Robbins said.
Under Alabama law, if convicted, McGregor could spend the rest of his life in prison.
A year before her death, Berry made a haunting post on Facebook. She wrote, âSeeing all these women/mothers all of a sudden getting injured an leaving here really got me in my feelings on a whole different level! In less than 2 weeks we have lost 4 women! 3 mothers. I pray in the name of Jesus over every mom Right now , may your blessing father shower down on them! Do not lead them into temptation, save them from the hands of evil ppl lord God. Guide them when they travel an take them through the day unharmed. Lord watch over us day an night! Let your shield and sword be with us ALWAYSSSS!!! Let us know peace always an never be pulled into trouble. In Jesussss name we Pray.. AMEN.â
