Boy, 12, shot dead playing 'Russian Roulette' in abandoned house as three are arrested for murder

Tributes have poured in for a 12-year-old boy who died after allegedly being shot during a game of Russian Roulette in Mississippi.

Markell Noah's body was found in an abandoned house in Audubon Place, Jackson on Friday night after he was initially reported missing. He was killed around 3am.

Law enforcement officers subsequently arrested and charged two minors and one adult in connection to his murder on Friday.

The juveniles were charged with murder, and the adult was charged with accessory after the fact of murder.

Markell's body had been left in the abandoned suburban house, according to Jackson police Deputy Chief Deric Hearn, who spoke with WLBT.

However, some members of Noah's family have since voiced their skepticism that the young boy died during a 'game.' Authorities are still probing the death.

Markell Noah, 12, was found shot to death on Friday. His body was found in an abandoned suburban house in Jackson, Mississippi

Three individuals have been arrested in relation to Markell's death. Two minors for murder and a 21-year-old for accessory to murder after the fact. The preteen is pictured here with his mother Sonya Noah

Markell's body was found early Friday in an abandoned house at 334 Audubon Place in Jackson, Mississippi, where the 2021 per capita murder rate was the highest in the nation

Markell's sister Nunu posted what appear to be pictures of the bloody murder scene to her Instagram page, on which she says she does not believe Russian Roulette had anything to do with her brother's death

Local resident Star Appleberry told WAPT.com that it is the job of parents to 'know who your children are participating with and who your child are coming in contact with.'

'Stay on your children. Be nosey. Know what they are doing and they are doing it with,' she said, before adding that 'everybody is going to need some help with this situation.'

In 2021, Jackson reported a record 155 homicides - scoring the highest per capita murder rate in the nation. As of October 2022, there had been 100 homicides in the city.

Members of Noah's family and community are mourning the child, who had just turned 12 on November 17.

Latoya Harris wrote on Facebook of her sadness about the loss: 'My heart is so heavy. This young King was my son friend. He was always a delight very respectful and well mannered. 

'He ate with us and called me ma. Praying for strength and understanding for the family of Markell Noah. You will be missed baby boy. We love you.'

A local local resident said it is the ongoing job of parents to know 'who your child are coming in contact with.' 

The investigation is still pending in Jackson, but Markell's sister Nunu took to social media and said that she does not believe her brother's death had anything to do with a game of Russian Roulette.

'MARKELL DEATH WAS NOT ANOUT A GAME [sic],' she posted to her Facebook page. 

On her Instagram page, she posted a series of pictures of conversations she had with her brother's friend, as well as pictures of the bloody crime scene where Markell's body was allegedly found.

'Not everything on the news is real,' she wrote.

'It wasn't nothing about a game being played...I WANT JUSTICE IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE FOR MY 12 year old brother,' continued Markell's distraught sister.

Authorities have not released the names of the suspects arrested for murder.

The investigation is ongoing, and Jackson police ask anyone with information to call the department at 601-960-1278 or Crimestoppers at 601-355-8477.