‘This is very heartbreaking:’ Man shot over pair of Air Jordans; Suspects on the run

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The search is underway for two men accused of robbing and killing a man in Jackson.

The motive behind the murder? A pair of Air Jordans.

“It’s a sad day in the city of Jackson as a young man loses his life because he wore tennis shoes that some idiots like,” said Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade.

The suspects nicknamed “Scooter” and “Mayne” are now being sought. JPD is working to determine her identity and whereabouts.

“There is absolutely no excuse for you to prioritize a pair of tennis shoes over this man’s life,” the chief said.

Chief Wade said it all happened around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Pine Ridge Garden Apartments on Rebelwood Drive.

According to the chief, the two suspects attempted to take the victim’s Air Jordans.

He refused to give it to him.

The suspects then shot the victim in the head, ripped his Jordans off his feet and then fled the scene.

“They took her after they took his life,” Chief Wade said. “Normally I’m not speechless, but today I’m speechless.”

“This is very heartbreaking,” said Shameka Miller, who was working with a patient at the complex at the time of the shooting.

Miller is a nurse and calls the shooting senseless and devastating.

“When I was dealing with the patient, it didn’t sound quite right, so when I heard the noise I put him in as soon as I heard the noise,” Miller recalls. “As I start to come through and go outside and kind of see what happened. It is very sad that a person would lose their life over a pair of shoes so close to Thanksgiving.”

Police are still investigating whether the victim and suspect knew each other.

It is currently unclear whether the victims and suspects lived in the complex.

However, investigators confirmed that the victim was at the facility visiting someone before the murder.

Chief Wade now vows to find and arrest the men responsible for this crime.

“We will be searching for them throughout the day, the rest of the evening and throughout the weekend to find out who they are and to bring them to justice here in the city of Jackson,” Chief Wade said.

The chief describes the victim as a white male in his 20s.

His name has not been released at this time. Authorities will notify the victim’s family members before releasing his name.

Once the suspects are in custody, they will be charged with murder, the chief said.

If you have any information about this homicide, you are asked to contact the Jackson Police Department at (601) 960-1234 or Crime Stoppers at (601) 355-8477.

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