Senatobia Police Department are currently investigating a shooting which occurred last week.
William Renix, 44 of Coldwater, was arrested on charges of one count felon in possession of a firearm Thursday, May 19, following a shooting that occurred at Prestige Park, a mobile home community in Senatobia.
Around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, a dispatch was issued for emergency responders for a shooting which occurred on Crawford Street in Senatobia.
SPD responded and upon arrival on scene found a victim lying on the ground with a single bullet wound. Officers rendered aid to the victim until paramedics arrived.
Officers were told by eyewitnesses that the suspect fled the scene prior to SPD’s arrival. Witnesses were able to provide a vehicle description and the possible destination of the suspect. This information was relayed to deputies with the Tate County Sheriff’s Office.
TCSO deputies were able to intercept the suspect and vehicle as it was reaching it’s destination in Coldwater, while SPD officers on scene at Crawford Street continued to gather information. The suspect was taken into custody and turned over to Senatobia Detectives for further questioning. After securing a warrant to search the suspect’s vehicle, a black 40-caliber pistol was found inside and obtained for evidence.
The victim was transported by Pafford Emergency Services to Delta Health Highland Hills and later flown by helicopter to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, TN, where emergency surgery was performed.
Amye Welch Durham, owner of Peek-A-Boo Playschool located across Norfleet Drive from the mobile home park where the shooting occurred raised concerns in a Facebook post questioning why SPD did not warn the daycare to secure children inside the facility.
“So I normally don’t blast out BUT…. I own Peek-A-Boo Playschool. Yes there was an active shooting across the road @ the trailer park…. SENATOBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT did NOT warn us to get the kids inside, lock the doors, get kids away from windows. THEY DID NOT check after the fact to see if we were OK.” Durham stated in the post.
Assistant Chief Matt Defore responded to the questions raised by Durham.
“We are certainly in favor of any precautions that are typical to the situation. We previously spoke to the circumstances in our press release that we published on Facebook, whereby the initial officers on the scene were working hard to save the victim’s life, as well as gathering initial information from bystanders on the chaotic scene. During this timeframe, the suspect was intercepted in Coldwater, MS,” said Defore. “Had there been any information about an ongoing threat to the nearby surroundings, then any additional protocols would have certainly been implemented. Like anything in an uncontrolled and rapidly evolving environment, each determination is case-by-case depending upon the circumstances and urgencies of each situation.”
Defore also extended gratitude to other agencies involved with the case.
“We want to thank the Tate County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. Their fast response in locating the suspect helped to expedite the process of safely putting the suspect into custody,” said Defore.
The shooting remains under investigation and further charges may be pending.
