Jackson Free Press

JACKSON — It has been a cruel summer for victims of grand larceny in Jackson. The Jackson Police Department's Aug. 1-7 COMSTAT report shows that a total of 82 grand-larceny crimes—stealing property valued at more than $500—have been committed in the past 28 days, starting in early July, compared to the 28 grand larceny crimes reported in the same time frame in 2015, reflecting a 4.3-percent rise, year-to-date.

Overall, total major crimes (property and violent) have fallen 15.3 percent throughout Jackson in 2016 over the same period in 2015, but Precinct 4 has seen a 12.3-percent increase in property crime.

Precinct 4, which spreads north to the Ridgeland city limits, east to the Pearl River, west to the Illinois Central Railroad and south to Fortification Street, has experienced a 6.4-percent rise in overall crime, driven by property crimes. Precinct 4 includes the Fondren and Woodland Hills neighborhoods and has a total population of 45,406 residents, the City reports. The area has seen a rise in house burglaries, auto theft and auto burglaries, compared to 2015 statistics.

Rape in Jackson has declined nearly 40 percent, the largest decline in any specific crime, year-to-date, compared to 2015.

Alleged Shooter Arrested

On Sunday, Aug. 7, Laramie Collins and Kamesha Brown were taken to UMMC as a result of injuries during an alleged robbery at 6:30 a.m. Both victims were shot at their 425 Bent Tree Drive residence.

Two men were reported attempting to break into their residence, and JPS officers quickly responded to the scene.

Collins had drawn his weapon and shot back at one of the suspects entering his home early Sunday morning. Collins suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and arm and was listed in critical condition at UMMC as of Thursday. Brown, with gunshot wounds to both legs, was in stable condition at UMMC.

Both suspects fled the scene in a silver vehicle, which was later found abandoned and burned in Rankin County, at least 15 miles from the scene of the crime.

Investigators later learned that a subject identified as Orlando Williams, 28, went to Merit Health in Brandon to be treated for multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso, a press release reported. He was later arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault stemming from this investigation.

Targeting Latinos?

On Aug. 8, Joseph Carpenter, who was wanted for two counts of armed robbery and is accused of targeting victims from the Hispanic community, turned himself in to police.

In a previous Jackson Free Press article, "Crimen Contra Los Latinos: Local Residents, Advocates Decry Violent Attacks," Latinos have become a growing target for victims of violent crimes in central Mississippi.

"All these crimes are robberies," Bill Chandler, executive director of Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance in Jackson, said at a press conference after the front-yard murder of Daniel Omar Gomez and Eli Nunez at City Hall in April. "The perception is that immigrants carry a lot of cash because they don't have bank accounts."

Onelia Hawa is the community engagement editor for the Jackson Free Press and assists with crime coverage. Email her at [email protected].