Meridian police early Saturday morning responded to the second murder in Meridian in less than twenty-four hours.

The latest incident took place Saturday at Highway Village Public Housing Complex located at 506 Front Street Extension. The victim is identified as
28-year-old Stanley Mason, a resident of the complex.

Officials were called to the scene after a caller told a 911 dispatcher that a person had been shot. When officers arrived, they found the victim's body lying in front of one of the housing units. It appears he died of gunshot wounds.

Detectives are in the process of determining whether there are any connections to another homicide that took place around 10:30 Friday morning. 29-year-old Jerome Hearn, of Meridian, was killed in that shooting. He was found in a car parked in front of a vacant house in the 2300 block of 25th Avenue. Meridian police say, at this time, there is no hard evidence to suggest the Mason homicide is a direct retaliation for Hearn.

Authorities ask that anyone who may have any information concerning either homicide to contact authorities at 601-485-1893 or Crimestoppers.