Sheriff James Moore released the following statement this morning on the Burglary in Kemper County .
On Wednesday April 5th, 2023, at approximately 10:00am, the Kemper County Sheriff’s Department responded to a residence close to the intersection of Highway 397 and Highway 21 South, Preston, Kemper County, MS 39354, in reference to witnesses stating there were three people wearing masks carrying guns breaking into a residence. Through the investigation the suspect vehicle was identified, and a statewide BOLO was issued. A short time later Louisville Police Department located the vehicle along with the suspects.
Through the course of the investigation the Kemper County Sheriff’s Department was made aware of ongoing investigations with other agencies involving this vehicle and the suspects. The timeline of the crime spree by the suspects started on Tuesday April 4th, 2023, when the suspects allegedly held the owner of the vehicle they were in at gunpoint forcing him to withdraw money from an ATM in Philadelphia, MS. From there the suspects got him back into his vehicle and drove him to his residence in Rankin County where they forced him out of the vehicle and then drove away with the vehicle without the owner’s permission or consent. On Wednesday April 5th, 2023, sometime during the early morning it was also alleged the suspects went to a school in Winston County and using a handgun threatened someone. The suspects then found themselves in Kemper County at approximately 9:50am, chasing a subject in the Preston area. The subject ran to a residence where the occupants knew him. When he ran into this residence he locked the door behind him and told the occupants that some people with guns were chasing him. The suspects arrived at the residence and forcefully kicked in a door causing damage to the door. The suspects then stepped inside the residence pointing guns at the occupants looking for the subject they were chasing. When the subject was not seen in the residence the suspects fled, running to the vehicle, and leaving the area.
The suspects apprehended were identified as Malik Antwan Elmore (17), Nicholas Lakendrick Christopher Crocket (15), Anijah Rose McCall (17), and Diovion Markel Crosby (17).
The suspects were arrested and processed for the charge of Burglary – Breaking and Entering Dwelling House or Inner Door of Dwelling ***Terrorized Victim Incident***. MS Code [97-17-23]. They were each issued a bond in the amount of $50,000.00 dollars.