On Thursday, March 27, several people were arrested in connection with the shooting in Downtown Jackson that happened just hours after the March 22 Hal’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Brady Martin, a spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, confirmed early Friday morning that Michael McLeod, 22, a police officer at the University of Mississippi Medical Centre, and Marquavius McLeod, 21, were both arrested by Capitol Police in connection with the shooting on Lamar and Pearl streets. A court source said that the two suspects are brothers.
Patrice Guilfoyle, Director of Communication at UMMC, said in a statement on Friday, March 28, that Michael worked as a police officer for about a year with the UMMC Police and Public Safety Department and was fired on Thursday, March 27. UMMC says Michael wasn’t working when the killing happened and that his UMMC-issued gun wasn’t used.
The job McLeod had before he became a cop with the UMMC Police was different for about six months. “Before starting work at UMMC, he passed all regular background checks, and he has never been in trouble for behaviour or performance,” UMMC said in a statement.
Martin told us that seven people were hurt and one person died in the shooting. The victim was named by the Hinds County Coroner as Cortez George, 21. The doctor said that George died from being shot several times. The names of the dead who were still alive were not made public.
“Each of them has been charged with murder and seven counts of aggravated assault.” There will likely be more charges, Martin said.
On Friday, the brothers were not given bond by a judge in the Capitol Complex Improvement District Court.
Martin said that more information could be given to the public when it becomes available.
Officials from UMMC said that the hospital was sorry for the victims and their families and would continue to help Capitol Police with the investigation.
