Crime
Quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond taken into custody
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Austin Drummond, the suspect wanted in connection with a quadruple homicide in West Tennessee, was taken into custody Tuesday morning, according to law enforcement officials.
Drummond’s arrest followed an intense manhunt that prompted a shelter-in-place alert for residents in Jackson, Tennessee, after the Jackson Police Department confirmed a sighting of the fugitive.
Police issued an emergency advisory stating:
“Due to the sighting of suspect Austin Drummond in the area of Saddlebrook Drive and Bridlepath Drive, please shelter in place immediately.”
Authorities also closed the area of Pleasant Plains and Country Club, warning residents to remain indoors, lock all windows and doors, and avoid unnecessary travel during the active search.
The search for Drummond had intensified over the past several days.
On Monday, Union University was placed on lockdown, and multiple law enforcement agencies were deployed to the area. Roads near Pleasant Plains Extension and Oil Well Road were also blocked off as part of the manhunt.
Drummond had been on the run since Tuesday of the previous week, when four members of the same family were found murdered in Lake County.
His vehicle was later located in Jackson on Friday, leading investigators to believe he remained in the area.
On Sunday night, Drummond was captured on a citizen’s home surveillance system in the 700 block of Pipkin Road. In the footage, he was seen wearing camouflage, carrying a rifle, and wearing a backpack.
One of the surveillance videos shows him attempting to open a door.
Jackson Police are urging residents to continue reporting any suspicious activity by calling 731-425-8400.
Crime
Jerome DeWayne Hughes, 35, Fatally Shot During Bonfire Gathering in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
A gathering among friends turned into a devastating tragedy Sunday night when 35-year-old Jerome DeWayne Hughes was fatally shot during a bonfire gathering in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. His death has left family members, friends, and others who were present mourning a sudden and heartbreaking loss.
Authorities have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting. The suspect, identified as Derrick Lamont Edwards Jr., is facing a murder charge as investigators continue working to establish what led to the deadly confrontation.
According to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at approximately 10:20 p.m. Sunday to the 4300 block of Culver Road, west of Tuscaloosa, following reports of a shooting.
Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Captain Jack Kennedy said the shooting occurred during a social gathering around a bonfire. What had begun as an evening spent with friends ended in violence, prompting an emergency response and a homicide investigation.
Hughes had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center for emergency treatment, but despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead.
His death has left loved ones grieving a life lost during what was supposed to be an ordinary gathering among friends.
Following interviews with witnesses and an examination of the crime scene, investigators obtained a murder warrant for 23-year-old Derrick Lamont Edwards Jr.
Authorities reported that Edwards was taken into custody within a few hours of the shooting through coordinated efforts involving the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service.
He has been charged with murder and is being held without bond, according to the information provided.
The charge is an allegation, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system. Edwards is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Although investigators have made an arrest, important questions about the shooting remain unanswered.
Authorities have not publicly explained what led to the confrontation, whether there was an argument before the gunfire, or what may have motivated the alleged attack.
Detectives continue gathering information and reviewing evidence as they work to establish the full sequence of events.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators is encouraged to contact Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit detectives at 205-464-8690.
At 35 years old, Jerome DeWayne Hughes had a life and future that mattered to the people who knew and loved him. His sudden death has left family members and friends facing the painful reality of losing someone close to them.
The gathering on Culver Road was supposed to be an opportunity for people to spend time together. Instead, it became the setting of a fatal incident that has deeply affected those connected to the tragedy.
For Jerome’s loved ones, the days ahead will bring grief, difficult questions, and memories of a man whose life ended far too soon.
As the investigation continues, thoughts and condolences remain with the family and friends of Jerome DeWayne Hughes, as well as everyone affected by the shooting.
May Jerome be remembered with love and compassion, and may his family find strength and comfort during this heartbreaking time.