Bank of Holly Springs

Shooting under investigation

A shooting in the 100 block of Chatham Drive in Holly Springs resulted in the death of one man and the injury of another, according to Marshall County Sheriff Kenny Dickerson.

He said his department is assisting in the investigation following the firing of an estimated 35 to 40 rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle into a car from another car around 7:45 p.m. Sunday.

Holly Springs Police Chief Dwight Harris said upon arrival at the scene, officers found a male subject, who had been struck by gunfire, lying in the yard near the driveway of a residence. Paramedics arrived and the victim was transported to a landing zone to be airlifted to Regional One.

Marshall County Coroner James Richard Anderson said Edhelridge “Happy” Balfour, 27, was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. at the helicopter landing zone at the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Highway 7 North.

The body has been transported to Pearl for an autopsy, Anderson said.

Another male victim, who suffered gunshot wounds, was transported to Methodist Olive Branch Hospital by personal vehicle, according to authorities.

Harris said witnesses saw a silver car leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

Anderson, who lives on Salem Avenue, said he heard the automatic gunfire all the way to his house.

“It is my understanding the AK-47 assault rifle was fired by an individual or group in one car into the other car during an incident that took place outside the residence,” Dickerson said.

The estimate of the number of rounds spent was made from the number of spent casings, he said.

Chief Harris said the multi-agency investigation includes the police department, the sheriff’s department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.

If anyone has information on this case, please call police investigators at 662-252-2122 or the sheriff’s department at 252-1311.

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
PH: (662) 252-4261
FAX: (662) 252-3388
www.southreporter.com