JACKSON, MS – A security guard at a local convenience store was fatally shot early Monday morning, leading to the arrest of three teenagers charged with capital murder, according to police.
Roy Love, 60, was working the night shift at M&M Food Express on Cooper Road when he encountered three teenagers around 1:30 a.m., Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said during a news conference. Love approached the teens and asked them to leave the premises.
The confrontation escalated quickly. According to Chief Wade, the teenagers attacked Love, seizing his weapon and then using it to shoot him. “They already had a gun, but their motive was to take Mr. Love’s firearm,” Wade explained.
The suspects, two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old, fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Two of them ran away on foot while the third escaped on a bicycle. Police were able to apprehend all three suspects within hours of the incident.
Video footage reviewed by the police showed that Love did not draw his weapon during the altercation, Wade said. The footage provided crucial evidence that helped investigators piece together the events leading to the fatal shooting.
The community has been left in shock by the tragic loss of Love, who was well-known in the area for his dedication to keeping the convenience store safe. The Jackson Police Department is continuing its investigation, focusing on understanding the full circumstances surrounding the incident.