Clarksdale has recorded another shooting death of a juvenile and another weekend of shots fired into houses.
A 15-year-old was shot numerous times early Monday morning after someone fired repeatedly at the house he was in.
“On Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, around 2 a.m., officers responded to the 800 block of Choctaw Street in reference to a shooting,” Clarksdale police said in a statement today. “Upon officers’ investigation, it was determined that numerous shots were fired into the residence striking a 15-year-old male numerous times. At least seven other individuals were present during the shooting. No other injuries were reported.”
Police have not given the name of the victim, a possible motive, description of a vehicle or description or name of a possible suspect.
No arrests have been reported by Clarksdale Police in this homicide.
Clarksdale police also reported Monday morning three incidents of shots fired into “occupied dwellings.”
• Officers responded to the 100 block of Cherry Street in reference to a shooting. Upon officers’ investigation, it was determined that three apartments sustained gunfire.
One person believed they sustained a laceration to the leg as they were going to the floor to avoid the gunfire. No other injuries were reported.
• Officers responded to the 2100 block of 7th Street in reference to a shooting.
The homeowner reported while in bed, a barrage of gunfire struck their home while in bed. No injuries were reported.
• Officers responded to the 1200 block of Park Lane in reference to a shooting.
Upon officers’ investigations, it was determined that the residence was fired into numerous times. Officers were able to determine the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute. No injuries were reported.
Police reports did say if these incidents are gang oriented or what the motive might have been. Clarksdale police also did not say if anyone has been arrested as a result of these shootings.
Anyone with any information is urged to call 911 immediately as each of these incidents is an on-going investigation.
Clarksdale’s fourth homicide
Monday’s homicide marked the fourth death by gunfire in Clarksdale in a little under two months this year.
A 17-year-old was shot in the head Friday afternoon Feb. 9, later died of his injuries at a Memphis hospital and police are investigating the incident.
No arrest has been reported.
Police reports said the shooting occurred about 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, and believe it occurred in the area of Spruce and Choctaw Streets.
Police reports said they were called to the Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center emergency room about the shooting. The 17-year-old victim had been dropped off at the Clarksdale hospital.
Police Chief Robbie Linley said at the Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioner’s meeting last week that police are following up leads and those who dropped off the victim have been questioned.
The victim has been identified as Jameion Chatman, a student at Clarksdale High School.
Police did not say if a weapon has been recovered or the possible motive for the shooting.
Chatman’s death marked the third homicide for Clarksdale this year.
Clarksdale closed out 2023 with a homicide and started 2024 with the violent death of a woman.
On Sunday, Dec. 31 about 3:12 p.m. Clarksdale police were called to an alley in the area of 7th Street and Leflore Street, in reference to a shooting.
Officers located Demetrius Curtis, 36, had been shot numerous times and he was pronounced dead on the scene, just two blocks away from the historic Crossroads.
Witnesses reported hearing Curtis and an unknown male subject arguing before they heard numerous gunshots.
Police are actively investigating this homicide, but no arrested had been reported as of Wednesday afternoon Jan. 3.
On New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2024 officers responded to the 500 block of Lynn Street in reference to a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers found Deshara Smith, 31, lying on the kitchen floor deceased from a gunshot wound.
Smith’s boyfriend Marquel Miles later turned himself in at the Clarksdale Police Department. Miles was charged with one count of homicide and was transported to the Coahoma County Justice Complex pending an initial appearance this week.
These homicides follow the shooting of a 10-year-old boy riding in a car on Christmas Eve in Friars Point.’
In that murder, the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office received a call at about 9 p.m. Sunday saying a child had been shot and was being taken by a private vehicle to the hospital in Clarksdale.
An investigation revealed a 14-year-old girl and the 10-year-old were riding around in downtown Friars Point when someone shot at their vehicle, hitting the 10-year-old boy. He later died at the Clarksdale hospital.
The boy was identified as Ladarius Nesbitt, of Lambert, and he was pronounced dead at the emergency room of Northwest Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale.
It is believed the unknown shooter was seeking to shoot at the owner of the car.
Friars Point is a town of about 900 people and this Christmas homicide has the community on edge.
A violent accident that injured one and killed two others on Dog Bog Road is also believed to be connected to this incident. Charles Jones was the sheriff at the time of this murder and released little information about this murder or accident.
The Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of newly sworn in Sheriff Mario Magsby, is seeking information on the Friars Point shooting and a $2,500 reward has been offered for information about this crime. The community is asked to call Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department at 662-624-2411. All calls remain anonymous.
And sadly, this is not the first child killed in the community over the past 12 months.
A 15-year-old boy was found shot to death in an alley off of Grant Street in the Brickyard neighborhood of Clarksdale, on Aug. 18, 2023.
A 15-year-old male was also shot and killed by a former Clarksdale Police officer on West Second Street in June, in what may have been a burglary. That incident is still under investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
In July gunfire hurt three 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old girl who were shot in front of a house on Andrews Street, also in the Brickyard neighborhood.
In early December 2023 a 13-year-old girl was shot in the back while sleeping in her home on Douglas Street. She is recovering from her injuries.
And in October 2021 a seven-year-old was shot and killed by random gunfire aimed at another person at the Crossroads of Highway 61 and Highway 49.
Only the arrest of Miles has been announced by authorities in any of these shootings.
If any person shoots a firearm of any nature or description into any house or any other building usually occupied by people, whether actually occupied or not, they can be charged with a felony whether or not anybody is injured.
Upon conviction by local courts they can be punished by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a term not to exceed ten years, or by imprisonment in the county jail, fined up to $5,000, forced to pay restitution for damages, all within the discretion of the court.
Aggravated assault is a more serious crime and is defined as injury or threat to a person to make them fear for their life or assault with a weapon. It is punishable by up to 20-years in prison and a $10,000 fine. An adult who assaults a juvenile can find the penalty enhanced to 30-years in prison.
Aggravated assault is a felony and shooting into a home can also be deemed a felony if prosecutors and judges wish to pursue it.
Anyone with details about this shooting, or any felony in Clarksdale, is asked to contact the Clarksdale Police Department at 621-8156, or simply dial 911.
