Defendant is fatally shot outside courthouse while awaiting hearing with his lawyer
Updated: A defendant in a drug case was killed outside a Mississippi courthouse Monday morning when a former firefighter with no criminal history walked up to him and fatally shot him in the chest, authorities said.
A lawyer for Kendrick Armond Brown, 37, was with him at the time for a scheduled hearing and witnessed the slaying, District Attorney Michael Guest told the Clarion-Ledger. The DA also said he believes the shooting could not have been prevented, since it occurred outside the new Madison County courthouse in Canton, rather than inside.
The suspect in the slaying, William Wells, 24, laid down his gun after the attack and surrendered to deputies, said Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker. Wells has been charged with murder.
What motivated the crime is still under investigation. However, Guest said the mother of William Wells had been scheduled to testify against Brown and was herself shot over the past weekend. It is possible the shooting of Brown was in retaliation, the DA said.
“That’s how it appears,” Guest told the newspaper.
Sherry Wells was shot Saturday evening as she was preparing to go to work, Canton Police Chief Otha Brown told the newspaper. “Someone shot into the vehicle and hit her in the leg.” She was not severely injured and reportedly is no longer hospitalized.
The Associated Press also has a story.
Updated at 3:55 p.m. to include subsequent Clarion-Ledger coverage.
