Residents of Greenwood “cannot tolerate” any more shooting crimes, says Mayor Carolyn McAdams.
McAdams spoke about the problem of shootings at Tuesday’s meeting of the Greenwood City Council. She was disturbed about Saturday’s shooting at Hibbett Sports at the Greenwood West shopping center.
“The last shooting that we had was in a store that could have certainly affected a lot of people in that store,” she said. “It could have killed or severely hurt people that were in that store shopping.”
Police Chief Terrence Craft said a 35-year-old man was shot twice in the hip.
The suspect, Xavien Leahman, 31, of 1363 Virden was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has been released from the Leflore County Jail on $10,000 bond.
The male victim was shot twice, but his injuries were not life- threatening, Craft said.
There were 22 gun-related homicides in Leflore County in 2020 and 16 in 2021, and there have been three so far in 2022, according to reporting by the Commonwealth.
On Friday, a drive-by shooting at the corner of Main Street and Johnson Street resulted in the death of 32-year-old Greenwood resident Christopher Reed and injuries to seven others.
McAdams pleaded with residents to speak out if they have information on a shooting or are concerned an incident is going to happen.
“We need your help,” she said. “We’ve asked for your help repeatedly. Repeatedly.”
Ward 6’s Dorothy Glenn, in agreeing with McAdams, said she had spoken with Craft concerning certain neighborhoods. Glenn said she was trying to do whatever it takes to reduce the violence.
McAdams floated the idea of a 10 p.m. curfew if another shooting takes place, though she said she was open to all suggestions.
Ward 4’s Charles McCoy said businesses should place signs on their property forbidding loitering so that “hot spots” do not develop.
Craft confirmed to McCoy that if a business has a sign and calls with a complaint about a gathering on their property, the police will break it up.
Research on ordinances to require cameras at apartment complexes and businesses is also underway.
Craft said he supports the use of more cameras anywhere they can get them. He said cameras in Hibbett Sports made identifying the suspect “cut and dried.”
Jody Bradley, executive administrator of the Greenwood Police Department, told the council that he and Craft have looked at ordinances in Vicksburg and Madison for guidance and would be meeting with McAdams on Wednesday to discuss the issue.
“We just need to answer questions in the morning about specifics of what’s to be covered,” Bradley said.
He said that an ordinance may be ready for the council’s consideration at its next meeting.
Council President Ronnie Stevenson said he would prefer that camera ordinances for apartments and businesses be introduced one at a time rather than together.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwa-rds@gwcommonwealth.com.
