Three young men behind bars for shooting death - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Three young men behind bars for shooting death

By Julie Straw - bio | email

BROOKHAVEN, MS (WLBT) - A young man is dead and three others are behind bars after a murder in Brookhaven.  It is the city's first homicide this year.  Police say it all started as a drug deal, but it turned into an armed robbery and ended in murder.

Three young men, two of them are teens, are accused of killing 21 year old James Braswell of Picayune.  Brookhaven Police say it happened just before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday evening when Braswell and two females traveled to this car wash on Union Street.

"(They) had stopped and talked to these three black males in the parking lot of the car wash, trying to push some drugs and told to meet them down the street," said Brookhaven Police Chief Arlustra Henderson.

Seven-teen year old LaTonio Hamilton, 20 year old Ty-Qwan Berry and 19 year-old Marvin Truss had different plans.  According to police there was no transaction, they just wanted the cash.

"Two of the three had weapons and demanded the money.  They gave them money and they demanded more money.  They didn't have any more and I believe that's when the victim tried to drive off and shots were fired," said Chief Henderson.

At least two bullets were fired and one struck Braswell.  The women were not hurt, but he died.  The next morning, Brookhaven Police moved in and arrested all three men at their homes.  Hamilton, Berry and Truss are now being held at the Lincoln County Jail charged with capital murder and armed robbery.

"That fast dollar, trying to be bad with guns, not familiar with weapons and anything.  You know it's a sad thing because in this particular instance there's not a winner.  There's no winner.  A life is gone.  Three young men may be gone for the rest of their lives," said Chief Henderson.

Hamilton, Berry and Truss will all be making initial appearances before a judge Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.  Until then they are being held without bond.