Three Charged in Shooting Death of Teen in Horn Lake, Mississippi

Horn Lake, MS -- Three people are in jail accused of killing a Horn Lake, MS teen. Police say two of the accused killers are teenagers.

Monday, August 26, 2008, 16 year-old James Hill died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Horn Lake Police charged 20 year-old Tremaine Reed, and 16 year-old twin brothers Jernario and Jernartay Elrod with murder. The shooting happened Monday afternoon near Hill’s home on Greenbrook Cove West.

Hill’s step mom Mary Kay Smith says, “Around about 3 or 4, I was in the bedroom and I had heard a shot and by the time I got out here, James was laying on the ground.”

Eyewitnesses say the 16 year-old attempted to run to his home for help but collapsed near the front door.

Smith called 911 as her 16 year-old stepson fought for his life. She says, “I was asking everybody what was going on. They said some boy had shot him. Nario had shot him with a shotgun.”

The bullet hit James' heart, according to smith. He died at the hospital a short time later.

Smith says her stepson is dead because of a previous beef with his accused murderers.

“(James) and this same boy had got to fighting last week and they say James had beat him up. And I know he had roughed James up too,” said Smith.

Police were called to her home Saturday night during the fight, but no charges were filed. Smith says things heated up again Monday as James was on his way home from school.

“They was standing on the corner and the boy walked up to him and James told him he didn’t want to fight him….and they kept pushing. They kept pushing,” said Smith.

Smith says eventually someone pulled the trigger and ending James' life.

Smith says, if they had God on their side, they would have been better off. But they had the devil on their side. That’s what made them do that.

Horn Lake Police say all three of the accused killers are in jail under $200,000 bond each. Eyewitness News Everywhere has learned the 16 year-old Elrod brothers will be tried as adults.