Starkville Police Department arrested a Columbus teenager Tuesday for his alleged role in a weekend robbery and subsequent shooting in the Cotton District.
Officers, along with the U.S. Marshal Task Force, apprehended Syboris A. Pippins, 18, of Columbus, and charged him with robbery.
The robbery, a SPD release states, occurred Sunday morning before Mississippi State University student Joseph Tillman, 21, was shot and killed on Maxwell Street.
Pippins was taken to Oktibbeha County Jail, and his initial appearance in Starkville Municipal Court is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday.
SPD also announced a new charge for the alleged shooter, 20-year-old Jaylen Barker of Columbus. He now faces one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
Barker and three other suspects — 16-year-old Tyler Harris, 22-year-old Jamario Pippins and 19-year-old Brandon Sherrod — were arrested Sunday by Oktibbeha County deputies after they allegedly fled the scene.
Barker was charged with first-degree murder, while the other three men were charged with accessory after the fact.
Sherrod has since posted bond, the SPD release states.
Affidavits obtained by The Dispatch allege Harris allowed Barker access to a vehicle by “handing over the keys” and Sherrod drove the suspects away from the Cotton District.
At a Monday press conference, SPD Chief Frank Nichols said investigators found two guns in the vehicle at the time of the arrests.
At the time of the incident, Nichols said Tillman interacted with the suspects for several minutes before a shot was fired. Police officers “have reason to believe” the victim used force during the interactions.
Tillman chased at least one individual toward Maxwell Street’s Stagger-In bar and restaurant, Nichols said, then walked back to confront the suspects for about four additional minutes before the shooting occurred.
During Monday’s press conference, District Attorney Scott Colom said there was no evidence at the time to show Harris, Sherrod or Jamario Pippins knew anything about the robbery or the shooting until they happened, although officers are still investigating.
At one point, Nichols said a patrol car drove by the scene moments before the shooting, and officers did not see evidence of imminent violence.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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