Toddler murdered in Mississippi, apparently caught in squabble between adults
Published 5:51 am Monday, February 11, 2019
A 2-year-old boy has been shot and killed, apparently caught up in an altercation between the alleged shooter and another man who was also killed. Law enforcement investigators say the two were murdered by a man who lived with them, though the exact relationship between the three has not been released.
The Sun Herald reports Sheriff Troy Peterson says 34-year-old Billy Roberts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and manslaughter in the slaying of the toddler and 20-year-old David Garcia.
Peterson says deputies responded to a report of a shooting Saturday near Saucier and found the toddler and Garcia shot to death.
Authorities say the three lived together, and Peterson says Roberts got into a dispute with Garcia before the shooting. The sheriff told WLOX TV that the two men were boyfriends of two women who also lived at the 21403 Riceville Road.
The nature of the dispute it unclear, as is the connection between Roberts, Garcia and the toddler.
Roberts was taken to the county jail. His bond was set at $1.5 million. It’s unclear if he has a lawyer.