Artesia homicide arrest, Horn Lake shooting and volleyball title chase lead Mississippi rundown
An arrest in the death of a West Lowndes High School student and a shooting in Horn Lake lead Thursday’s Mississippi news. Severe-weather agencies are also urging residents to decide where they will shelter before a tornado warning. In sports, Northwest Mississippi Community College volleyball is still unbeaten, a Class 5A championship matchup brings a comeback challenger against the defending champion, and several college teams have games ahead. This edition covers articles originally published by MS News Group and Sports Mississippi in the 24 hours ending Thursday, October 15, at 4:45 p.m. Central. Results that were not in that window are not reported as final.
Mississippi News
Arrest made after Artesia homicide
The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office arrested 18-year-old Jaquarious Dionta Brooks in connection with the death of 18-year-old Jaraquist Cunningham at a basketball court in Artesia, according to MS News Group’s report. Cunningham was a West Lowndes High School student. The sheriff’s office said Brooks was taken into custody after his mother contacted Sheriff Eddie Hawkins to arrange for him to surrender.
Investigators are still gathering evidence and witness statements. The arrest is a development in an open homicide investigation, not a finding of guilt. The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to contact it at 662-328-6788 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151.
Horn Lake woman stable after shooting
A 20-year-old woman was shot during a domestic altercation Tuesday at the Medina at Mallard Creek Apartments in Horn Lake, police said in an account carried by MS News Group. She was initially taken to Regional One Trauma Center in critical condition and was later listed as stable at Regional One Medical Center. That later condition is the most recent one stated in the source article.
Police arrested her boyfriend, 20-year-old Cortez Bradford, at the scene and charged him with aggravated domestic assault and possession of a stolen weapon. Investigators said they seized the gun used in the shooting. The charges are allegations; the published account does not describe a court outcome.
Agencies stress shelter plans during severe-weather week
Mississippi emergency officials are using Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week to remind residents to identify a safe place before a tornado threatens. MEMA’s guidance says that during a tornado warning, people should seek a basement or a small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, stay away from windows, and protect their head and neck.
The National Weather Service in Jackson adds that people should move immediately when their area receives a warning, avoid large open spaces such as gyms, and use a blanket, mattress or helmet against debris where available. These are preparedness and shelter instructions; neither source article reports a new tornado in this window.
Mississippi Sports
Northwest volleyball improves to 32-0
No. 20 Northwest Mississippi Community College extended its winning streak to 32 matches with a straight-set victory over Meridian Community College, Sports Mississippi reports. The Rangers won 25-15, 25-12 and 25-18, improving to 32-0 overall and 8-0 in MACCC play. The report puts Meridian at 13-15 overall and 0-8 in the conference.
Northwest hit .302 and registered eight blocks, according to the school figures cited in the report. The unbeaten record is a completed result in the source, separate from the championship previews below.
Sumrall and New Hope contest Class 5A title
Defending champion Sumrall and New Hope were set to meet at 4 p.m. Thursday at A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton for the Class 5A volleyball championship, according to Sports Mississippi’s matchup report. Sumrall entered at 32-6 and had won eight straight. New Hope reached the final by recovering from a two-set deficit against Caledonia and taking the decisive fifth set 16-14.
The championship was scheduled to have begun before this edition’s 4:45 p.m. cutoff. The eligible article is a preview, so this rundown does not assign a winner or score. New Hope’s semifinal comeback and Sumrall’s chance to repeat are the established stakes.
Jackson State returns home for Saturday homecoming
Jackson State is scheduled to host Florida A&M at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday for homecoming, Sports Mississippi reports. The Tigers return to Jackson after a three-week absence from home. The source brief does not provide a kickoff time or a current team record, so fans should check the game listing before making plans.
Mississippi State soccer welcomes Oklahoma
Mississippi State is scheduled to host Oklahoma at the MSU Soccer Field at 6 p.m. Central Thursday, according to Sports Mississippi. The source describes it as the first meeting between the programs at Mississippi State. At the fixed cutoff, this was still a scheduled match; the source does not supply a result.
Southern Miss heads to South Alabama
Southern Miss soccer travels to Mobile for a 6 p.m. Friday Sun Belt match against South Alabama at The Cage, Sports Mississippi reports. The Golden Eagles enter 5-5-3 overall and 2-3-1 in league play; South Alabama is 4-6-2 and 2-2-1. The report says both teams have seven conference points as the regular season nears its final weeks.
Mississippi Christian and Delta State play two scoreless matches
The schools’ men’s teams and women’s teams each played to a 0-0 draw Wednesday, according to separate Sports Mississippi reports. In the men’s match, Mississippi Christian had a 21-9 shot advantage, including seven shots on goal, but could not score. The women’s report says Mississippi Christian held off seven Delta State attacking efforts in the final 11 minutes; the Choctaws took 11 shots, five on target.
Those were separate matches with the same final score. The available reports describe the results but do not identify a winner because neither match had one.
Featured graphic: Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office image announcing an arrest in the Artesia homicide investigation, from the MS News Group media library. Credit: Lowndes County MS. Sheriff’s Office on Facebook. It is a sheriff’s graphic, not a scene photograph; the arrest does not establish guilt.
