In a tragic domestic incident that unfolded on the afternoon of December 2, 2025, the small town of Sledge, Mississippi, became the scene of a fatal shooting involving an elderly couple. Authorities were alerted to the situation around 3:15 p.m. when a 911 call was placed from a residence located on Tibbs Road. The caller, identified as an 82-year-old Black female named Mattie Crockett, reportedly told dispatchers that she had just shot her boyfriend.
Responding deputies from the Tunica County Sheriff’s Office, along with Pafford Emergency Medical Services, arrived at the home to find the victim, 75-year-old James Larry Jr., suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the arrival of emergency personnel, the Tunica County Coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.
Law enforcement officers located Crockett at the residence upon their arrival. Following the discovery of the victim, she was initially transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment before being released into police custody. Investigators determined that the shooting was domestic in nature, stemming from an altercation between the couple at the home they shared. Crockett was subsequently transported to the Tunica County Jail, where she was booked on charges related to the homicide.
In the days following the event, the legal process against Crockett commenced. She appeared before a judge on the Wednesday after her arrest, where she was formally charged with murder. During this court appearance, her bond was set at $100,000. Additionally, jail records indicated charges including possession of a weapon by a felon. The investigation by the Tunica County Sheriff’s Office remained active as detectives worked to finalize the details surrounding the fatal dispute that claimed the life of James Larry Jr.
