Greenwood police are asking the public for information as they investigate the death of a 19-year-old man and the injury of another, age 31, in a drive-by shooting early Monday morning on south Main Street.
Denarius Coleman of Greenwood was driving south on Main after leaving the Main Attraction nightclub and had just emerged on the south side of the underpass when bullets entered his car, leaving him fatally injured, according to Greenwood Deputy Police Chief Marvin Hammond.
“Officers received a call at about 1:15 a.m. about shots fired at the 1200 block of Main Street,” Hammond said. “When they arrived, they came across a black vehicle with one person in the driver’s seat who was deceased.”
Hammond said that according to a report filed by the officers who responded, several shots were fired into the vehicle.
Two passengers in the car survived. Ralphfeal Gilbert, 27, the front-seat passenger, was not injured. Tavoris Smith, 31, who was in the back seat behind the driver, was shot in the back, taken to Greenwood Leflore Hospital and transported to Jackson for emergency surgery.
Hammond said that as of Wednesday, Smith was stable.
Officers have collected security camera footage from businesses in the area and are reviewing those tapes now as the investigation continues, Hammond said.
One witness spoke with police, but according to Hammond, he didn’t actually see the shooting.
“It’s an ongoing investigation, and we’re looking at several suspects right now, but there’s nothing solid at this time,” Hammond said.
“We’re asking the public to share any information they might have with us.”
Monday’s homicide is the fourth gun-related death inside the Greenwood city limits since the beginning of 2018 and the ninth in Leflore County.
To report information connected with this crime, call the Greenwood Police Department at 453-3311.
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
