DEVELOPING: Four Charged In Connection With The Murder Of Mississippi State Student

STARKVILLE, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – The Starkville Police Department is actively investigating a shooting death that occurred on Maxwell Street.

On Sunday, November 6, 2016, at approximately 1:50 A.M. officers responded to the report of a shooting. The victim was identified as 21-year old Joseph Tillman. Mississippi State University confirmed Tillman is a senior from Schlater, MS. This incident was related to an attempted robbery.

On the initial traffic stop weapons were found in the vehicle occupied by the arrestees.

20-year old Jaylen M. Barker has been charged with Murder with a bond of $1,000,000. 22-year old Jamario Pippins, 16-year old Tyler Harris, and 19-year old Brandon Sherrod were charged with Murder, as an accessory, each with a bond of $500,000.

All arrestees are from Columbus/Lowndes County. All were transported to the Oktibbeha County Jail and have initial Municipal Court appearances on Monday, November 7, 2016, at 6:00 P.M.

The MBI (Mississippi Bureau of Investigation) crime scene unit was called in to process the scene. The U. S Marshal Task Force, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mississippi State Police Department are assisting with the investigation.

The Starkville Police Department would like to extend our prayers and condolences to the Tillman family and the Mississippi State students who were affected by this loss.

The Starkville Police Department will not tolerate violence of this nature in our community and will ensure that justice is served.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with any information into this, or any other, incident is asked to contact the Starkville Police Department at 662-323-4131 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151.

BARKER

PIPPINS