STARKVILLE — Circuit Judge Lee Howard sentenced Mason Perry Jones, one of three suspects arrested in connection to the March 2012 on-campus shooting death of Mississippi State University student John Sanderson, to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
Court records show Jones, 23, of Jackson, withdrew his previous not guilty plea to avoid a capital murder trial that could have produced a death sentence.
Jones, who is represented by William LaBarre, a lawyer within the Mississippi Office of State Public Defender’s Capital Defense Division, will not be eligible for parole until his mid-60s, officials said.
Two other suspects facing capital murder charges stemming from the incident — Duntae Harvey, of Jackson, and Trent Deundra Crump, of Flowood — are scheduled for spring court appearances, but Assistant District Attorney Katie Moulds said she expects their lawyers to also submit guilty pleas.
The DA’s office, she said, accepted Jones’ plea after consulting with Sanderson’s family.
“I can never tell you what a jury is going to do, but I was confident in our proof,” Moulds said. “The family let him plead to this because they wanted certainty. The chief end of what we’re doing is getting justice for the deceased. Now, the family can move on and try to get closure.”
On March 24, 2012, Sanderson was shot twice in an Evans Hall dorm room. At the time, officials said the room was also occupied by two other students and three suspects.
An autopsy showed he was shot in the chest, while a second bullet traveled through his arm and into his abdomen.
He died that night at OCH Regional Medical Center.
It is believed the six individuals were gathered at Evans Hall for a drug exchange involving Xanax. At the time, Sanderson lived in Rice Hall.
“I’ve asked that question to everyone, and nobody can give me an answer,” Moulds said on why Sanderson was shot.
While Jones never admitted to pulling the trigger, she said, the other suspects both identified him as the shooter.
A manhunt began after three suspects fled the scene. A small-caliber handgun was also recovered on campus.
Arrests followed each subsequent day after the incident: Jones was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Memphis, Tennessee. Harvey surrendered to authorities at a Jackson apartment complex. Crump turned himself in to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department in Florida.
All three suspects were 21 at the time of the incident.
MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter thanked law enforcement for their participation with the case.
“The university is grateful to Det. Brad Massey and the rest of the MSU Police Department for their professionalism and hard work in this case. We are also appreciative of state and federal agencies who worked to support MSUPD,” he said. “We believe justice was done and pray that the victim’s family and friends can find closure from this tragic crime.”
Circuit Clerk Glenn Hamilton said residents who received jury summonses for this specific case are now not needed. The county, he said, saved an estimated $65,000 in expenses by avoiding a trial.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.