Three men are being held for investigation in connection with a Wednesday night shooting death.
Greenwood Police Chief Ray Moore described the three — who had not been formally charged this morning — as “persons of interest” in the death of Jacarius Keys.
“We want to make sure our information is correct before we charge them,” the chief said.
The Commonwealth does not publish the names of suspects until they are formally charged.
Moore said patrol officers and members of the department’s Tactical Response Team arrested the three men without incident Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Walnut Street and Harding Avenue.
Moore said additional suspects are still being sought in the shooting of Keys, whose death was the 10th homicide of the year in Greenwood and the 15th in Leflore County.
Keys was shot late Wednesday night near the intersection of Main and Palace streets. According to eyewitnesses, he was pursued by five or six people — all wearing hoodies — before he was shot.
An autopsy on Keys will be performed at the state Crime Lab in Jackson. Moore said he didn’t know how long that would take to complete.
Keys was indicted by a Leflore County grand jury in the Aug. 16, 2015, shooting of D’Alandis Love and the wounding of Perez Montrell Love, Kenorris Cortez Stigler and Kelsey Jennings. D’Alandis Love was shot as he was driving on U.S. 82 when his car was fired upon. Perez Love, Stigler and Jennings were passengers in D’Alandis Love’s vehicle.
Also indicted with Keys were James McClung, Sedrick Buchanan, Armand Jones, Michael Holland and David Reedy. Keys and the other defendants were to appear before Leflore County Circuit Court Judge Ashley Hines on Jan. 9.
Moore lamented the “revolving door” that allows dangerous suspects back on the streets prior to trial: “We’re dealing with it on a day-to-day basis.”
Still, Moore said his department will not rest until Keys’ killers are apprehended. He is asking for the public’s help to identify those responsible.
Citizens may call the Police Department at 453-3311 or the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) with any information on the shooting.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
