STARKVILLE — A Starkville Police Department detective says no gang harassment had been reported by the family of murder suspect Dennis Thompson.
Sgt. Chadd Garnett responded Tuesday to allegations levied by family members of Thompson, 17, following his bond hearing Monday in Starkville Municipal Court. Garnett denied Thompson”s family filed a report with the SPD Wednesday, days prior to the Saturday morning shooting which left one man dead and three wounded, of threatening text messages sent to Thompson”s phone.
Furthermore, he says the department had “no knowledge” of any prior gang harassment and denied Thompson has received a police escort at school prompted by earlier threats.
“It”s not our policy to escort people to school,” said Garnett.
Asked whether Starkville has an ongoing gang problem, Garnett declined comment.
He did corroborate the family”s claims that Thompson may have been assaulted outside Club 124 moments prior to the shooting.
“We believe there was an incident before the shooting,” said Garnett.
Witness reports claim Thompson was punched before he began firing into a crowd outside Club 124 following a high school graduation party. Thompson”s father, Dennis Deloach, stated Monday, following Thompson”s bond hearing, that his son was swarmed and being stomped when one of his attackers dropped the .40 caliber pistol used in the shooting. Deloach says Thompson grabbed the gun and began firing randomly to disperse his attackers.
Garnett says the police aren”t sure if the shots were fired randomly or aimed at certain individuals, but the SPD believe Thompson had possession of the gun prior to the shooting.
Curtis K. “C.K.” Randle, 25, whom police say was partying at the club, was killed. His body was found in the middle of Highway 182.
Two Starkville School District high-schoolers and one East Oktibbeha High School student were also struck. Devier Outlaw, 17, was shot in the arm and the abdomen and Azaria Ross, 16, was shot in the thigh. Tony Vincent Harris, 15, was shot in the abdomen.
One of the injured students was reportedly treated and released from Oktibbeha County Hospital and the two others were reported in stable condition Saturday. Garnett says no further reports have been released on the teens” conditions. He says the SPD does not believe the students were directly involved in the incident.
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. Officers were on the street Tuesday morning gathering statements.
Thompson”s bond was set at $300,000 Monday in Starkville Municipal Court.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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