Published: November 02, 2009 11:38 pm      

Probe continues in murder cases

Police still talking to ‘people of interest’

Detectives with the Meridian Police Department Criminal Investigation Division are continuing to interview witnesses and "people of interest" in both the Jerome Hearn and Stanley Mason shooting deaths. The deaths mark Meridian's third and fourth homicides of 2009.

No charges have been filed and no arrests have been made in either the Hearn or Mason cases. All subjects who are considered "of interest" are still being interviewed by detectives and are still on a 72-hour investigative hold while the investigation continues.

In a press release, MPD Capt. James Sharpe, commander of the department's Criminal Investigation Division made it clear detectives are still trying to determine who was involved in the two incidents.

"They are people of interest, not suspects," said Sharpe.

Both persons of interest regarding the Hearn case were located by officers of the MPD's Patrol Division early Sunday morning. They were placed on investigative hold until detectives could interview them.

The "person of interest" in the shooting death of Mason turned himself in for questioning after he learned he was being sought by detectives.

Mid-morning on Friday, police discovered the body of Hearn, 29, of Meridian, who had died of apparent gunshot wounds in his car, parked at a vacant house in the 2300 block of 24th Avenue. The homicide is said to have occurred at around 10:30 a.m.

About 14 hours later, Mason was shot and killed.

Mason, 28, of the Highway Village Public Housing Complex at 506 Front St., was found shot to death outside one of the housing units early Saturday. Sources said he had been shot six times.

The bodies of both homicide victims were sent to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for autopsy.

Detectives still ask that anyone with information involving these incidents contact the Meridian Police Department at (601) 485-1893, the Criminal Investigation Division at (601) 485-1859, or CrimeStoppers.