New Briefs From Across The State
Purses left unattended in shopping carts stolen
Three people have been arrested after authorities said they targeted shoppers at Wal-Mart and allegedly stole their purses. Twenty-two year old Adrian Gaines, of Tupelo, 21-year old James Martin and a juvenile face an assortment of charges after Wal-Mart employees, witnesses and victims positively identified the trio after a rash of incidents at the Wal-Mart in Tupelo.
Captain Chuck Bunn, of the Tupelo Police Department, said Gaines, Martin and the juvenile watched victims as they shopped at Wal-Mart and allegedly stole the victim’s purses from their shopping carts as they shopped or as they walked to their vehicle in the parking lot.
Detectives launched an investigation into the theft and all three suspects were later arrested in the downtown Tupelo area without incident. Gaines was charged with grand larceny, directing a youth to commit a felony and possession of a controlled substance. Her bond was set at $50,000. Martin was charged with grand larceny and directing a youth to commit a felony and his bond was set at $10,000.
Charges against the juvenile will be handled in youth court.
South Carolina fugitive caught with handgun on the Coast
Police said a 41-year old man wanted in South Carolina was arrested during a routine traffic stop in Gulfport. James Wright was charged with one count of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon after he was pulled over near the intersection of Hewes Avenue and Railroad Street.
During this stop, officers learned there was an outstanding warrant on Wright in South Carolina and they also found a handgun in his possession.
Wright was charged and his bond was set at $20,000.
Robbery investigation upgraded to murder
Gulfport police have upgraded a robbery investigation at a local business to a homicide after the victim of the armed robbery died. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on July 5 at the World Gold and Silver Buyers at 942 Pass Road.
When police arrived, they found a 69-year old man suffering from a head injury and he was transported to a local hospital in serious condition. Police began a search for a small grey vehicle, possibly a Mitsubishi Galant, that was seen at the business at the time of the robbery.
Police said the car was occupied by two possible suspects. The first was described as a black male with a dark complexion, in his early 20s, 5′ 07″ to 5′ 10″, with a thin build and braided hair that was pulled into a pony tail.
The second subject is said to be a black male with a medium complexion, in his early 20s, 5′ 10″ and approximately 150 pounds with short cut hair.
Police said the two robbery suspects became murder suspects after the victim died from his injuries on July 9. The two men are still at large.
Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or CrimeStoppers at 1-877-787-5898.
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