West Point Police Make Home Invasion Arrests

Venard Gray

Depriest Gray

WEST POINT, Miss. (Press Release) — West Point Police Department investigators have made an arrest in a home invasion that occurred June 14.

At around 9:30 that evening, police were dispatched to a home on Lone Oak Road in reference to a robbery. Upon arrival police interviewed an injured man who reported that two men allegedly entered his home and assaulted him.

An ambulance was immediately dispatched. The man, whose name is not being released, told police that the one of the men beat him up and then tied him up. An undisclosed amount of money was taken from the victim’s wallet before the men left his home. The wife of the victim was present during the assault but managed to escape the home during the assault unharmed.

Police were able to get a description of the suspects and with assistance from the Starkville Police Department were able to identify at least one of the attackers. Police declined to reveal exactly how they were able to piece together enough evidence to identify the man; only that Starkville P. D. played a vital role.

Chief of Police Tim Brinkley stated, “We have some evidence that suggests why the victim was targeted and don’t believe anybody else in the neighborhood was ever at risk. We also don’t believe there is a danger of these kinds of incidents reoccurring. The fact that this occurred in one of the safest neighborhoods in the city is just an indication of the level of risk we all live with every day.”

Arrested in the attack was 29-year-old Vernard Gray of Windale Apartments H-34 in West Point and his brother, 28-year-old Depriest Gray of the same address.

Depriest Gray was charged last week with a similar crime in Starkville.

Depriest Gray has been charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, kidnapping and armed robbery. His Bond has been set at $50,000. Vernard has been charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling. A bond hearing is set for Thursday before Municipal Court Judge Bennie Jones. Both are being held at the Clay County Detention Center.
The victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries and has been released from he hospital.

This case is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at (800) 530-7151 or the West Point Police Department at 494-1244.