The Starkville Police Department is increasing its physical presence in the Cotton District after a Mississippi State University student was shot to death there earlier this month.
SPD is opening a police substation at 621-A University Drive, across from the intersection with Maxwell Street, after former Mayor Dan Camp offered the location to the city free of charge.
SPD Chief Frank Nichols said the substation will allow his department to “have someone there pretty much constantly,” and the additional physical presence will also be joined by a new security camera and improved lighting in the area.
Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins said the substation should be up and running in time for Saturday’s Mississippi State University football game against the University of Arkansas.
“I saw (increasing SPD’s presence in the Cotton District) coming when I took office because of the growing popularity of bars in the area. We definitely want … to have a presence there, not so much as from the enforcement aspect but from the protection aspect,” Nichols said. “We’ve tried to be as proactive as we could. Grants have allowed us to add three cameras already, obtain an unmarked vehicle and got us $45,000 for overtime.”
The Cotton District substation marks the third such location opened by SPD under Nichols’ leadership. SPD opened locations on Alfred Perkins Street and Louisville Street in 2014, but Nichols confirmed the Louisville Street location is phased out of the department’s long-term plans.
Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker, who represents the Cotton District, applauded the partnership between SPD, Camp and other area business owners.
Increasing the department’s presence is only one step toward increasing overall safety in the area, he said.
“(The substation) is one more step that’s going to make the area safer, but I don’t think that’s … going to resolve all of the issues,” he said. “It’s going to require the police department to be vigilant in its efforts, and I think it’s going to require the members of the board to do everything we can do to assist the police department with funding additional officers, equipment and the other things that they need.”
The shooting
Five Lowndes County residents face felony charges for their alleged roles in the Nov. 6 shooting death of 21-year-old Joseph Tillman.
Jaylen Barker, 20, and Syboris Pippins, 18, are both charged with capital murder. SPD identified Barker as the alleged shooter, while Pippins was originally charged with robbery.
Barker also faces one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
Also charged with accessory after the fact were 16-year-old Tyler Harris, 22-year-old Jamario Pippins and 19-year-old Brandon Sherrod. Those three suspects, along with Barker, were arrested hours after the shooting by Oktibbeha County deputies after they allegedly fled the Maxwell Street crime scene.
Syboris Pippins was arrested two days after the shooting.
Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols said Tillman was walking along Maxwell Street, between Stagger-In and Bin 612, when he was approached by a number of suspects. The group interacted together for a few minutes, he said, at which time an alleged robbery attempt occurred.
Tillman chased one person toward Stagger-In, Nichols said, and returned to confront the other suspects. At least one shot was fired during the second confrontation.
Police officers “have reason to believe” the victim used force during the interactions, Nichols said.
At one point, a police patrol car drove by the scene moments before the shooting, Nichols said, and officers did not see evidence of imminent violence.
Deputies found two guns in the vehicle the suspects occupied at the time of their detainment. Those weapons were sent to the Mississippi Crime Lab in Jackson for forensic testing.
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.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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