Suspect surrenders in Monday's fatal shooting in Meridian

Meridian police say Jemarcus Shaquille Grace turned himself in around 3:30 Monday afternoon in a fatal shooting near George Reese Apartments that happened earlier in the day.

Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose says they were called to the area of George Reese Court Apartments around 10 a.m.

Police say Jemarcus Shaquille Grace turned himself into authorities at the Meridian Police Department Monday afternoon. Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose says Grace is the trigger man in the shooting happened just before 10 a.m. near George Reese Apartments. Coroner Clayton Cobler says the victim was in his 20s.

“It was a 22-year-old black male that was shot several times in the back. He was transported to Anderson’s hospital and pronounced dead,” Cobler says.

Grace is charged with Murder and Felon in Possession of a firearm. His total bond is set at $375,000. Meridian police are still piecing the details together, but Dubose says they have an idea of what happened.

“Apparently the suspect and the victim were in some type of argument when the suspect shot the victim,” Dubose says.

Meridian police say that everyone involved in the Monday shootings knew one another and had a conflict. Chief Dubose says these were not random.

“It involves individuals that know each other and have some type of relationship, whether it be a positive of negative relationship, they do know each other,” Dubose says.

Grace will have his initial appearance in court in a few days.

Police also say the George Reese murder could be connected to the one that happened on Vally Street Monday afternoon, but have had conflicting reports.

The shooting death marks the third in less than 36 hours in Lauderdale County. A man was found shot to death on Russell Drive just after midnight Sunday morning in Meridian. Another man was shot to death about 3:00 Sunday morning on Highway 495 in Northern Lauderdale County.