The community saw its first murder case this week with a shooting death in rural Yazoo County.
The incident occurred during Monday’s early morning hours in the Scotland community. Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers said Pafford paramedics pronounced Austin Holeman, 22, dead on the scene after family members called 911 when they discovered his body.
“The victim was shot multiple times, and his body has been sent to the Medical Examiner’s office in Pearl to perform an autopsy,” Shivers said. “The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is assisting the Yazoo County Sheriff’s Department in this case.”
Terry Gann, chief deputy with the sheriff’s department, said a suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death.
Elijah Curtis Savell, 44, was charged with capital murder.
“We are still investigating the motive of this incident, but the victim was shot twice in the back,” Gann said. “Guns were also taken from the home.”
Following a few leads via cell phone conversations, Gann said investigators arrested Savell at his home Monday afternoon.
“We retrieved the weapons taken from the victim’s home at the suspect’s home,” Gann said. “We also recovered what we believe was the murder weapon.”
Gann said investigators are also questioning a second person they believe was at the home during the incident.
“We are still investigating the involvement of a second person,” Gann said. “Charges may be forthcoming following our investigation.”
