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Mississippi police have laid murder charges after a 12-year-old boy died during a game of Russian roulette.
Jackson boy Markell Noah was reported missing at about 3am Friday (November 25) morning by his family, according to WAPT TV.
Police and neighbours launched search parties as the hours excruciatingly ticked by.
The tragic tale came to a close when officers located Noah's body inside an abandoned house on Audubon Place, in Jackson's northern suburbs.
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He was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound.
Jackson Police Department Deputy Chief Deric Hearn told local TV news station WLBT the boy and two other kids had snuck out of their homes in the wee hours of Friday morning to play a round of Russian roulette.
But, unfortunately for Noah, his turn at the game proved to be a deadly one.
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The Jackson community is now struggling to come to terms with losing the little boy.
Two juveniles have been arrested over Noah's death and now face murder charges.
A 21-year-old has also been taken into police custody, however the adult is being charged with accessory after the fact of murder.
The Independent reported a family member revealed that Noah had received a text at 2am on the morning he went missing.
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Authorities believe he left his home afterward to meet up with the two other boys.
The outlet stated that despite police telling the public that the boy died during a round of roulette, Noah's family has disputed the fact that the 12-year-old was actually playing such a game.
The Jackson community has been left reeling in the wake of the child's shock death, with one concerned resident urging parents to keep an eye on their kids.
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"Know who your children are participating with and who your children are coming in contact with," neighbouring resident Star Appleberry told WAPT TV.
She added: "Stay on your children. Be nosey.
"Know what they're doing and who they are doing it with."
Appleberry added that the struggle will be real for all families involved.
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"Everybody is going to need some help with this situation," she said.
No further details were given at the time, but police did say an investigation was still ongoing.
Rachel Lang