Three men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a Ridgeland murder-for-hire plot.
District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced Thursday that three Canton men were convicted for their part in the scheme that ended in a shootout on Highland Colony Parkway at the Renaissance roundabout.
Dondre Blackmon and Corrie Ollie were both convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and each sentenced to 20 years behind bars – the maximum sentence allowed by law. Ollie also pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm, which tacked on an additional five years to his sentencing.
Xavious Johnson pled guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to 20 years, also the maximum for such a crime.
On Nov. 4, 2021, the Ridgeland Police Department (RPD) was called to the mall-side property after reports of two cars shooting at one another. Officers located one of the involved vehicles on the shoulder of I-55 southbound.
That’s when officers rendered life-saving aid to Tyrone Lewis, who had been shot in the arm.
A months-long investigation determined that Blackmon, a local real estate agent, had contracted Ollie to kill Lewis for $20,000 after Lewis had allegedly refused to pay Blackmon back for a business deal that went wrong.
Ollie and Johnson used social media to track down Lewis when he was eating at Walk-On’s in Ridgeland. Lewis, along with two others, left the restaurant before being followed by Ollie and Johnson. The two culprits then shot at Lewis, who returned fire. Lewis was the only one struck in the incident.
Bramlett released the following statement after the sentencings:
“If not for the quick thinking and life-saving measures provided by the officers of Ridgeland Police Department, Tyrone Lewis would have died. This is unacceptable behavior on so many levels. First, people cannot simply pay money to have other humans murdered. This is just as bad as pulling the trigger yourself. Second, it is a wonder and a miracle that no one else was hit, hurt, or killed by the reckless actions of these individuals. Opening fire on a moving car while driving up Highland Colony Parkway and then onto I-55 is so incredibly reckless and dangerous. I hope these sentences send a message to others that we will not tolerate this type of violence in Madison and Rankin counties.”
