A 17-year-old Starkville High School standout football player and another 15-year-old minor were charged with armed robbery in connection with a fatal shooting Friday at Camelot Apartments.
The Starkville Police Department arrested Tomas Talib Bradford, 15, of Starkville, and Abdural Funtane Lee Jr., 17 also of Starkville, on armed robbery warrants.
Bradford’s bond was set at $50,000, and he was transported to the Oktibbeha County Jail.
Lee’s bond was also set at $50,000. He was processed and bonded out after his arrest. His initial appearance in Starkville Municipal Court was scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 11.
SPD did not indicate how the armed robbery charges were connected with Friday’s homicide of 17-year-old Dacorian K. Coleman.
A call to detectives went unreturned Tuesday.
Although Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District officials would not comment on whether or not Bradford and Lee were ever enrolled in the school system, Lee was an All-State football player on the SHS football team.
Per school district policy, “A student who commits an unlawful or violent act … shall be subject to immediate suspension and recommendation of expulsion by” administrators.
SPD was dispatched to 1040 North Montgomery St. about 7:30 p.m. Friday in response to reports of shots fired in the area.
Upon arrival, law enforcement agents found Coleman on the ground, fatally wounded.
He died at the scene.
SPD retired murder charges against Neal Anthony Anderson, 28, of Starkville, after Chief Frank Nichols’ department issued a press release referencing a lack of evidence against the man.
Investigators believe Anderson acted in self-defense due to the armed robbery when he shot and killed 17-year-old Dacorian K. Coleman.
Anyone with information in this case should call SPD at 662-323-4131 or the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 800-530-7151.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
