Fatal shooting in Starkville leaves unanswered questions
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The stark reality of gun violence hits home in Starkville claiming the life of a teenager and leaving law enforcement searching for answers.
The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department is now spearheading the shooting.
Investigators arrested 22-year-old Austin Hudson and charged him with one count of first-degree murder.
Hudson is in the Oktibbeha County Jail awaiting his initial appearance.
One person was taken to OCH Regional Medical Center by private vehicle with a single gunshot wound. He later died. The county coroner identified the victim as 19-year-old Jequarius Spencer.
Neighbors tell us that the incident occurred on Bennett Drive.
According to the sheriff’s office, shortly after 8 a.m. deputies got a call about shots fired on the 100 block of Bennett Drive in the Sunset Subdivision.
“If we come asking questions about this shooting incident, people need to be honest and tell the truth. Because if they don’t, they will end up picking up charges. We’ve got to do something about this gun violence. Something’s got to come to a halt,” said Oktibbeha County Sheriff Shank Phelps.
Anyone with information on this investigation is encouraged to reach out directly to the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department or even the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers.
