Daily Corinthian
Tuesday April 7,
2015
50 cents
Mostly cloudy Today
Tonight
81
64
20% chance of thunderstorms
Vol. 119, No. 81
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Four murders Massive shooting leaves two dead Deputies
find pair of bodies
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Police believe several South Corinth neighborhood fights and possible gang-related activity led to the deadly shooting that claimed the lives of two Corinth men. Ahmarius Rakim Swinney, 25, of Horton Street and Deonta Dwayne Herman, 22, of Cemetery Street, died of gunshot wounds during the massive shootout on Saturday night at the Nashway Apartments near the South Harper Road and Proper Street intersection in east Corinth. Corinth Police Chief Ralph Dance said 911 received a call around 10:32 p.m. of shots fired in the area. “I was actually driving down Harper Road when I heard the gunshots -- somewhere between 80 to 100 shots,” Dance said. “It was chaos when I arrived on the scene, there were people fleeing in every direction. It was extremely hard at that time to tell who was a player in the shooting and who wasn’t.” Dance said he found one of the victims, still alive, lying
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
it appears the two victims were outside the apartment along with some other individuals
Investigators with the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department continue to look into the death of two individuals found over the weekend. A male and female body were discovered by deputies at 155 County Road 171 in the Rockhill area around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4 following a call from a friend of the individuals. “We are treating the case as a double homicide,” said investigator Reggie Anderson. The bodies were released to the coroner’s office and were believed to have been deceased several days, according to Alcorn County Coroner Jay Jones. No names have been released in the investigation. The Daily Corinthian learned through other sources the names of the two killed were
Please see SHOOTING | 2
Please see BODIES | 3
Staff photo by Zack Steen
Nashway Apartment No. 2 off Proper Street in east Corinth was the scene of a gang related deadly shooting Saturday night. face up in front of apartment No. 2. The victim was transported to Magnolia Regional Health Center where he later died. The second victim was
discovered about one hour later behind the apartments. He was pronounced dead on the scene. “From what we understand,
Mother of shooting victim seeks justice BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Mark Boehler
Easter Sunday Wreck A two-vehicle wreck on Easter Sunday resulted in major damage to both vehicles involved. The white Chevrolet Impala sedan driven by Rebecca Smith of Corinth was traveling west on U.S. 72 at the Harper Road intersection when the white Ford Ranger pickup driven by Olivia Bobo of Tishomingo failed to yield to the right of way. The collision caused Bobo’s pickup to roll onto its side. There were no injuries as a result of the wreck.
As tears streamed down her face, Iris Swinney King pleaded for justice Monday morning outside the Corinth Police Department. “My son was shot down for no reason,” said King, whose son, Ahmarius Swinney, was killed in the gang related shootout in east Corinth Saturday night. “His death is not going to go unanswered.” Police believe fights in the South Johns Street area earlier in the day led to the massive shootout that took the lives of Swinney and Deonta Herman. “My son was not at those fights. He was home at a BBQ with his family,” she said. “He kept telling me how much he loved me, and we talked about
Staff photo by Zack Steen
Iris Swinney King’s son, Ahmarius Swinney, was killed in the gang related shootout in east Corinth Saturday night. fun times when he was younger. He was in such a good mood day.” King said her son had recently given up his gun and had started staying off the streets. Please see SWINNEY | 2
North Corinth voting precinct to move to church in August BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A Corinth voting precinct is moving because of uncertainty about the existing location’s future. The Alcorn County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved relocation of the North Corinth precinct from the Corinth SportsPlex to the North Corinth Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Circuit Clerk Joe Caldwell said it’s important for
voters to remember that this change will take effect with the Aug. 4 primary and will not affect the special congressional election coming up in May. The request was made by First District Election Commissioner Bobby McDaniel, who said it is not a change he wanted to make but is one of necessity. If something happened with the ownership a day or two before the election, it “would be a pretty critical problem,” he
said. The SportsPlex filed for bankruptcy in March. McDaniel believes the church offers a convenient and easily accessible location. The Corinth fire station on Highway 2 near Afton was another location that was considered. In other business: ■ Moving towards a bid opening for the park expansion project, the board passed a couple
of resolutions necessary to proceed with the planned bond issue of up to $5.75 million and restructuring of the outstanding balance on the arena bonds. The bid opening is scheduled for April 20. ■ As he has done several times in the past, Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ross raised the issue of money owed to the Fourth District by the Second District. He voted “no” on approval of the monthly
claims docket because he said it shows the Second District has enough funds available to repay the $43,000. The claims docket was approved 4-1. Second District Supervisor Dal Nelms has previously said the debt should have been settled before he took office. ■ Supervisors approved the sheriff’s purchase of a van from King Kars for inmate transport at a cost of $20,500. It is a 2013 Chevrolet.
25 years ago
On this day in history 150 years ago
Several of Corinth’s Civil War sites are on the verge of being designated national landmark sites, shares Jack Griffith with the North Mississippi Planning and Development District.
Lee’s disaster yesterday at Sayler’s Creek is being tallied as the remnants of his army retreats across the Appomattox River. 7,700 men and eight generals have been captured prompting Lee to exclaim, “My God! Has the army been dissolved?” EXECUTIVE RENTALS COR CORINT INTH, H,, MISSISSIPPI MISSIS MIS SISSIP SIPPI PI CORINTH,
662-286-2828 Now Leasing!
WELCOME TO THE PINNACLE an executive rental community located in Corinth, Mississippi. Contact Jumper Realty & Associates to schedule a tour or for more information, units available January 2015
Located beside the Mississippi Welcome Center in Corinth • www.jumperrealty.com
•G Gourmett Ki Kit Kitchens h • Spacious Walk-In Closets • Garage and Washer/Dryer. • 2 and 3 bed units • Tons of Granite • Stainless Steel Appliances