Sheriff says more suspects could be forthcoming from death investigation
Three people have been charged with capital murder with armed robbery after a Newton man was found dead last week.
The suspects are charged with the death of Zavion Jennings, 23. Sheriff Joedy Pennington said he was discovered dead just off Morgan Field Road near the interstate after being reported missing person on the morning of Dec. 14.
Jadarius Burgess
Jamarkis Burgess
Joshual Barlow
Newton County Coroner Danny Shoemaker said he was pronounced dead at 8:15 a.m. Dec. 14 from apparent gunshot wounds. Neither Shoemaker or Pennington would confirm the type of gun used, the number of gunshots nor the location of gunshot wounds.
Pennington said Jennings’ last-known whereabouts was off Morgan Field Road close to I-20.
“We got a call about a missing person,” Pennington said. “Upon searching his last known location, we found a place where it indicated that there was a struggle. Not far from there, we found the body of Mr. Jennings… There was an armed robbery.”
The suspects charged in the incident include Jadarius Burgess, 19, and Jamarkis Burgess, 16, both of in Newton, and Joshual A. Barlow, 18, of Newton. All three were charged with capital murder with armed robbery, and each person’s bond were denied. Jarmarkis Burgess, a minor, is being charged as an adult, Pennington confirmed.
The Burgesses were arrested by the Newton County Sheriff’s Department while Barlow was arrested by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Both agencies are continuing to investigate the case.
Pennington said the case is still under investigation and indicated that there could be additional arrests.
“We still have several interviews to conduct,” Pennington said. “It is very likely that we will make additional arrests… This incident is definitely drug and gang related.”
