Four people are behind bars in connection with a murder in Yazoo City that prompted the Mississippi Delta town to impose a curfew for several days.
The Yazoo County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that Jaylen Smith, Roderick Patterson Jr., Jamonti Stuckey, and Cayden Lewis were each charged with murder in the July 29 killing of McKinley Sawyer Jr.
The 23-year-old’s body was found lying on the ground next to a car in the 1100 block of Webster Street Ext.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has partnered with the sheriff’s office throughout the investigation, which remains active.
“This case has been thoroughly investigated, and the investigation remains ongoing,” a statement from the Yazoo County Sheriff’s Office reads. “We are committed to following every lead, examining every piece of evidence, and working diligently to ensure that justice is served.”
The sheriff’s office also extended its condolences to Sawyer’s family and loved ones.
Mayor Macklyn Austin declared a state of emergency July 30 in response to the fatal shooting, imposing a citywide curfew that ran from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Aug. 3. Austin later said on social media that the state of emergency was prompted by threats of retaliation.
