In the small city of Grenada, Mississippi, a somber mood fell over the community in late September 2025. Ayden Reno, a 16-year-old male student at Grenada High School, was found deceased on the night of Monday, September 22nd. A junior, Reno was an active member of the school community, known for his involvement as a defensive back, wearing number 27 for the Chargers football team, and as a member of the Visions show choir.
The discovery of Ayden Reno's body was made by Grenada Police Department officers at approximately 11:41 p.m. in a brushy, overgrown area next to a home near Honeytown Park on Leigh Avenue. Earlier that evening, there had been reports of gunshots in the vicinity. The Grenada County Coroner, Douglas “Little Bobby” Yates, pronounced Reno dead at the scene at 12:25 a.m. on Tuesday, September 23rd. His body was then transported to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.
Within a week of the tragic discovery, the investigation led to the apprehension of four teenagers. On Monday, September 29th, the Grenada Police Department arrested three individuals: 18-year-old Lamarion Henderson, 16-year-old Nickolus Brown, and 15-year-old Zacarias Steward. A fourth suspect, 18-year-old Ryan Spencer, was taken into custody the following morning, on September 30th. The community was further shaken to learn that Henderson, Brown, and Steward were all fellow students at Grenada High School.
Following the arrests, formal charges were brought against the four suspects. Lamarion Henderson, Nickolus Brown, and Zacarias Steward were each charged with first-degree murder by deliberate design. Despite their ages, the District Attorney confirmed that all three would be charged as adults. Their bonds were set at $250,000 each. Ryan Spencer faced a charge of accessory after the fact, and his bond was set at $20,000, which he later posted. All four were booked and held at the Grenada County Jail. As the legal process began to unfold, a preliminary hearing for all four suspects was scheduled for October 14th in the Grenada Municipal Court.
