The family of Jela’ni Anderson is offering a $20,000 reward for anyone with information that can lead to an arrest in his death.
On March 28, 2011, Louise Anderson’s son Jela’ni was killed in the driveway of his home at 520 S. Broadway in McComb.
Former McComb Police Chief Greg Martin told the Enterprise-Journal that Anderson was headed to the store, but never made it out of the driveway.
According to the report, Anderson was found slumped over in his truck by his son. The son then identified family members who were in the home at the time.
Martin said family members alerted authorities and called an ambulance.
According to the report, Pike County Coroner Percy Pittman said Anderson died from a gunshot wound to the head.
He said no one in the neighborhood heard any gunshots during the time of Anderson’s death.
“It’s been six years, but it still feels like it happened yesterday,” Louise Anderson said.
Louise and Jela’ni’s cousin Le-Thiffany Anderson said Jela’ni was shot twice once in the back of the head and once in the temple.
They believe he knew his killer and the person was in the backseat of the truck.
Louise Anderson still recalls receiving the news that her son was dead.
“I didn’t have a phone, so they came to the house,” she said. “I was laying in the bed, and they say, ‘Lani dead.’ I told them, ‘No, he’s not.’ ”
Anderson said her son had problems with heartburn and acid reflux. She said she thought he may have died from a heart attack, but her heart sank when she found out her 35-year-old son was killed.
“I hit every hump on the way to McComb praying, ‘I hope it ain’t so.’ ” But, when she arrived at Jela’ni’s home, her worst nightmare was true.
“I jumped out (of) the car. They wouldn’t let me near that truck,” Anderson said. “I sat on the porch and I prayed. I could see him slumped over, just like he was asleep.”
Louise Anderson said she didn’t find out until later the person was believed to be in the truck with her son and he was shot in his own yard.
“Somebody out there know(s) who killed my boy,” she said.
Six years later, the Andersons have no answers about what happened to Je’lani, and officials say there are no new leads or information in the case.
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Anderson said she’s been left with a void in her heart and still no answers behind what happened to her son the day of his death.
“I cry daily, day in and day out. I used to talk and laugh with people. I can’t talk to people about him without crying,” she said.
She still goes out to her son’s truck, which is in the McComb Police Department’s impound lot and prays over it. She said she says a prayer that her son’s killer or someone with information will come forward.
Anderson worked as a driver for McComb Coca-Cola Bottling Co. “They called him the Coca-Cola man,” she said.
Louise said Jela’ni called and checked on her every day. “I’m sick and I’m suffering with things. When I get sick, he would be the first person to come down the road. I could hear him coming down the road,” she said crying. “Now, I can’t hear him anymore.”
“He was an outstanding person,” she said, adding that he was an active member of 24th Street Church of God in Christ in McComb.
“He was ordained before he died. I didn’t even know that,” Le-Thiffany Anderson said.
Louise said her son loved being around family, was very friendly and didn’t have any enemies.
“If he had some, we don’t know anything about them.” Le-Thiffany said. She said she and her cousins grew up close-knit.
The two shared a love of softball and baseball.
“He would run down a ball. Baseball, softball, basketball, football, it didn’t matter. He loved playing ball,” Louise said.
Jela’ni played with a men’s traveling softball team out of Franklin County called the “Goon Squad” up until his death.
Le-Thiffany said she took a five-year break from playing the game.
“His picture was on their softball shirts. I saw his name; he was always around. I just couldn’t do it anymore,” she said.
Le-Thiffany said she recently began playing softball again, but it’s hard not having her cousin there.
Le-Thiffany said the family continues to reel from Jela’ni’s death.
“It took a toll on them. It took them down through there,” she said.
Louise said she hopes someone comes forward.
“I’m hoping this make someone remember and reflect. Someone might remember something,” Louise said.
“I think about my son daily. I cry daily. Some people lose people and they can go on, I can’t. Before I leave this world, I’m going to find out what happened to my son.”
