Homicide under investigation by Violent Crime Task Force

The case of a black male found murdered Saturday, Dec. 7, in the 200 block of Park Avenue is under investigation by the Marshall County Violent Crime Scene Task Force, according to sheriff Kenny Dickerson.

He said city police officers contacted his office for assistance in the investigation following an initial call to 911 around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Dickerson and his officers found the victim, a 41-year-old male lying in bed face up with numerous lacerations on his face. He had lost a tremendous amount of blood. Numerous items of physical evidence were recovered at the crime scene including a long sharp knife in the kitchen sink area coated with a substance that appeared to be dried blood, he said. The knife and a small amount of white powder suspected to be cocaine recovered in the apartment were sent for forensic analysis. The victim was sent for autopsy at the Mississippi Medical Examiner’s office to determine the cause of death and for toxicology purposes.

Two females of interest are being held at the Marshall County Jail. They were apprehended separately Sunday and the investigation into the homicide continued through the weekend into the early morning hours Monday, Dec. 9, the sheriff said.

Highway incident Four suspects have been identified in an incident that took place on the westbound lane of I-22 near Lake Center around 8:15 a.m. Sunday, Dickerson said. A truck driver reported to 911 that a person parked on the shoulder of the highway had pointed a gun at him as he passed their vehicle. Deputies arrived at the scene when one of the suspects attempted to exit the car and appeared to draw a weapon, possibly accidentally shooting himself in the leg, the sheriff said. The person was transported to the hospital in Tupelo for medical assistance.

Dickerson said it could not be determined whether the individual intentionally shot himself or whether the gun discharged unintentionally.

Three other individuals were taken into custody at the scene and numerous weapons were recovered from the vehicle, one including a mini Draco semi-automatic, Dickerson said. Some of the weapons recovered were stolen, he said.

Four suspects were identified and three were set to make an initial appearance in Justice Court Monday on charges of possession and receiving stolen firearms.

The fours suspects are:

• Demetrius Tyrone Visor Jr., 20, of the 200 block of Charleston Place, Memphis, Tenn.

• Dijuan Lequavious Broome, 24, of the 4000 Block of Graniteknight Creek Road, Memphis.

• Terrique Jevon Hogue, 24, of the 300 block of Cynthia Place, Memphis.

• the fourth suspect has not been officially charged since he has not been brought to the jail from the Tupelo hospital, the sheriff said.