A Starkville man has been charged with capital murder in connection to a triple homicide in Artesia on Tuesday afternoon.
Major Greg Wright, lead investigator at Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that Clark Allen, Jr., 20, of 47 Fulton Lane in Starkville, was formally charged with the shooting death of 31-year-old Demario Snel, of Artesia, 24-year-old Tyshun Bernard Fields, of Crawford, and 22-year-old Mauricio Nance, of Columbus.
The shooting occurred at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Snell’s mobile home at 23 Mobile Drive.
A neighbor called authorities after hearing gunshots. Responders found two of the victims inside the home and a third in the yard behind the residence.
Allen was a guest in Snell’s home at the time of the shooting, according to a LCSO press release.
Wright said Allen was the person of interest authorities detained the day of the shooting.
“This is a very active and ongoing investigation. We’re still getting information that could make it or break it. But we feel confident in the arrest we made based off of the evidence that we have gathered,” Wright said. “We have a witness statement that includes seeing the subject in the area around the time of the incident.”
Wright said several pieces of evidence have been submitted to the state crime lab in Pearl.
“This is a tragic event. It really is. Three young men have lost their lives in this senseless crime,” said Wright.
“As officers, we understand the gravity of this situation, and that is why we have been working hard on this case and will continue to stay on it. It requires a lot of work and we’re willing to put in the work,” he said.
Wright said an incident like this really sends out a message to the community that life is precious.
“You never know what will happen,” he said. “You see it on TV and hear it on the radio, but it’s not in your community. But when it’s your community, it takes on a whole new meaning.”
Wright said the shooting has personally impacted his office.
“One of our officers that works at the detention center, her cousin was one of the victims. I saw her down there,” Wright said. “I knew a lot of folks that were down there. They were all asking for details, and at that time I couldn’t tell them a lot of information, although I wanted to.”
Allen was also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime of sale of a controlled substance. He was denied bond and will remain in custody at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center until his scheduled court date on May 13.