Arrest Made Minutes After Shooting
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Deputy Tyler Wortham, III, secures the scene on Blackmur Drive shortly after Thursday’s fatal shooting as other officers search for a suspect.
WATER VALLEY — A 20-year-old Water Valley man was shot and killed Thursday afternoon in a homicide that police say was resolved within minutes, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Water Valley Police Department Chief Jason Mangrum reported officers and deputies responded at approximately 4:21 p.m. on Feb. 12 to a shooting on Blackmur Drive near the intersection of Blackmur and Hayles Street. When officers arrived, they found the victim lying on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds Ronnie Stark, Yalobusha County Coroner, pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Stark identified the victim as 20-year-old Zachary Beard of Water Valley.
Chief Mangrum said the victim’s mother was in a nearby vehicle at the time of the shooting and immediately called 911.
At approximately 4:46 p.m. — just 25 minutes after the initial call — Edward O’Neal Sims Jr. was arrested after returning to the scene with his hands raised in the air.
“We think he was remorseful. It brought him back to the scene,” Mangrum said. “You have that adrenaline rush after doing it — you run, hide the gun — and then it starts hitting you, what did you do?”
Sims has been charged with first degree murder.
Chief Mangrum said Sims was fairly cooperative with investigators and provided information about the location of the firearm.
Police were told the gun had been stashed near a residence on South Street, roughly a half-mile from the shooting scene. Officers searched the area three times and utilized a K-9 unit from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to assist in locating the weapon.
“We went to the location twice and did not find the gun,” Mangrum said. “Shortly afterwards got a tip that led us to the location of the gun. Somebody had moved it in an effort to hide it.”
Mangrum said investigators believe at least three individuals were close enough to have seen the shooting or witnessed events leading up to it. Additional charges could be forthcoming for anyone determined to have acted as an accessory before or after the fact.
The Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene, along with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Assistant District Attorney Marvell Gordon also responded.
Chief Mangrum noted that while the case remains under investigation, authorities are confident the shooting aspect of the case has been resolved. He also said it appears the shooting stemmed from a verbal altercation, possibly about a female, that escalated to the shooting. The chief also said the scene was emotional as both families gathered shortly after the incident.
“The victim’s family showed up very upset, understandably so,” Mangrum said. “They were able to be calmed down to allow law enforcement to handle the case properly. They were as strong as they could be in that situation.”
The suspect’s family also arrived at the scene and was cooperative with officers.
Sims is currently on parole. Court records show prior cases in Yalobusha County involving auto burglary and a probation case out of Lafayette County.
Other activity reported by the chief:
• On Jan. 31, officers were dispatched to Central Street and North Court after receiving a report of a reckless driver dragging a gas hose behind a vehicle. Officers located the vehicle near the car wash on North Court and identified the driver as Lakendrith Bishop, 37, of Water Valley.
Mangrum said officers launched an investigation and determined Bishop was under the influence of an intoxicating beverage. Further investigation revealed Bishop had three prior DUI convictions and one pending DUI charge, making the offense a felony. Officers also determined the gas nozzle and hose had been taken from Sprint Mart. Bishop was charged with felony DUI and disorderly conduct.
• On Jan. 30, officers responded to an apartment complex on Blackmur Drive at the Water Valley Housing Authority for a reported stabbing. Mangrum said a man had been stabbed multiple times in the back of the neck following an argument in which alcohol was involved.
Police identified the suspect as Kevin Kuykendall, 47, of Water Valley. Investigators determined Kuykendall disengaged from the initial altercation, went to his apartment, retrieved a kitchen knife and returned to continue the confrontation. Kurkendall was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
• In a separate incident on Feb. 7, officers stopped a vehicle on Frostland Street for running a stop sign. During the traffic stop, officers detected the odor of marijuana and alcohol coming from the driver, identified as Richard Crump Jr., 43, of Coffeeville.
Mangrum said officers conducted a DUI investigation and determined Crump was impaired. He was arrested and charged with DUI and open container.
All suspects were transported to the Yalobusha County Detention Center for booking and a subsequent bond hearing.
