OKTIBBEHA COUNTY – A man will serve 33 years in prison for the 2024 murder of Gabriel Tipton.
Gregory Daniel Miller, 24, was sentenced on Wednesday after pleading guilty before Judge Michelle Easterling in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court, according to a press release from 16th Circuit District Attorney Scott Colom’s office.
The case dates back to Jan. 20, 2024, when Miller shot Tipton as the pair were riding with friends on Highway 82, the press release said. After the shooting, Tipton’s body was left on the side of the highway near the West Point exit where he died from his injuries.
Miller fled the state but was apprehended later that day in Pickens County, Alabama, on a driving under the influence charge. He was then brought back to Oktibbeha County Jail and was held on $1 million bond.
Miller accepted a plea agreement for the murder, forgoing his right to a jury trial and appeal, the release said. He was sentenced to 40 years with seven years suspended and 33 years to serve in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He will also serve five years probation upon his release.
Colom said the sentencing reflects the office’s prioritization of violent-crime cases.
“This sentence is another example of how our office prioritizes the prosecution of violent crime,” Colom said in the release. “We have a proven track record of bringing these difficult cases to a successful conclusion, and we will continue to pursue accountability for those who inflict violence on our communities.
“We are also grateful to the Tipton family for their trust and patience in this prosecution,” he added. “They assisted in the prosecution and agreed that this plea agreement was a satisfactory outcome based on the defendant’s willingness to forgo his right to a jury trial and an appeal.”
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 36 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 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
