BURNES
FIELDS
HAYNES
RANDLE
By William Moore
Daily Journal
VERONA – The U.S. Marshals Service arrested the third and fourth suspects in connection with an afternoon shootout in Verona.
All four were initially charged with aggravated assault. The charges could be upgraded when it is presented to the grand jury.
According to Verona Police Chief J.B. Long, the incident erupted around 3 p.m. Oct. 21 at the corner of Raymond Avenue and Eighth Street. Three men reportedly opened fire on a fourth man as he pulled into a gas station.
“It was an ambush,” said Long. “Carlos Burnes’ car was struck 14-plus times, including once in the headrest. That could have been a fatal shot, but he was just grazed in the head.”
The shooting was the result of a running feud between the men. Because Burnes, 39, of Tupelo, did return fire, he was arrested that afternoon and charged with aggravated assault. He bonded out of jail the same day.
A total of four vehicles were struck by gunfire. Three were occupied at the time. A 3-week-old was in a car seat in an SUV across the street that was struck twice. A mother and daughter were turning into the gas station when their car was hit once.
“And there were children in the parking lot walking home from school when this happened,” said Long.
Deuntae Randle, 21, of Okolona, was arrested Oct. 24 on multiple felony charges. Decarlo Fields, 20, of Tupelo; and Stanquan Haynes, 21, of Aberdeen; were picked up by marshals Monday on aggravated assault charges.
Fields, who is also facing separate armed robbery and aggravated assault charges, is being held without bond in the Lee County Adult Jail. Randle was transferred to the Monroe County Jail where he was charged with two counts of car theft and 28 counts of car burglary. Haynes will have his initial appearance Wednesday.
“This is a very serious situation that very easily could have been fatal,” said Long. “I am going to do what I can to make sure these people stay off our streets.”
william.moore@journalinc.com