Jackson police are investigating three separate homicides that occurred in the capitol city on Wednesday.
In a release, authorities said the cases all appear to be domestic in nature, though it does not specify if that means family members and/or significant others. It says only, “known associates” involved in “interpersonal disputes.” The release stresses that in at least two cases, these are not “random acts of violence.”
It is not at all unusual for homicides that are not of a domestic nature to be between people who know each other.
The first occurred at 3:04 p.m. Wednesday when officers responded to a service station in the 4600 block of I-55 North on a call of a shooting. There officers found a white pickup truck with multiple bullet holes and two victims who had been shot several times. The victims were transported to UMMC with life-threatening injuries. One of them died at the hospital.
“The suspects are not known at this time,” the release reads. “However, it is believed that the assailants targeted the victims.”
The second homicide Wednesday was just minutes before 8 p.m. The JPD release says the U.S. Marshals task force responded along with Jackson officers to a residence in the 3000 block of Charleston Drive on the call of a dead person. When they got there, they found a dead black male.
“Further investigation revealed the deceased and a known associate got into a verbal altercation that led to the fatal shooting,” the release states. “The shooting was a targeted incident and not a random act of violence.”
Wednesday’s third homicide, and the city’s fifth of the year, took place around 8:25 p.m. when police responded to the 200 block of Stokes Roberts Road in reference to “a shooting with intent.” At that location, police found the body of an unknown white female who had been shot. One suspect was arrested and more arrests are expected.
Johnny Caston, 66, has been arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to murder for his role in the incident, according to JPD.
“The victim of this homicide was a targeted subject and this incident is not a random act of violence,” the release reads.
The Police Department is asking for anyone with information to call (601) 960-1890 or Crime Stoppers at (601) 355-TIPS.
