Sh’Quiya Carpenter, a young woman of 22, was known to friends and family by two names: Sh’Quiya and Quintaria “Quiya” Molphus. Described as a life that touched family and community, she was loved by many in her hometown of Meridian, Mississippi. Her life was cut tragically short on the morning of Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in a burst of gunfire that claimed two lives.
The shooting happened around 9:40 a.m. at the St.
Francis Apartments, a complex in the 2400 block of Fourth Avenue in Meridian. When officers from the Meridian Police Department responded to calls of shots fired, they arrived to a devastating scene. They found two people, Sh’Quiya and 49-year-old Shedrick McAlister, deceased from gunshot wounds. A third victim was discovered on-site, critically injured. That individual was rushed to a local hospital before being airlifted to a specialized trauma center in Jackson for advanced care.
Witnesses at the apartment complex described a chaotic and frightening morning. One person reported hearing a single gunshot, and upon looking out their window, saw a woman who appeared to be ducking for cover. Three more shots rang out, striking two other people. Another witness ran outside to help and attempted to perform CPR on one of the victims but was unable to find a pulse. Initial reports suggested that responding officers may have come under fire as they arrived, highlighting the danger of the scene they were working to secure.
The Meridian Police Department launched an immediate and intensive investigation. Assistant Chief Dareall Thompson noted that officers responded quickly, secured the area, and began the work of identifying who was responsible. Investigators detained and questioned four people in the hours following the shooting. Police also recovered a weapon at the scene that they believed was involved in the incident.
Within days, the investigation led to an arrest. The Meridian Police Department charged 28-year-old Tommy Lard in connection with the deadly shooting. He faced a slate of serious felony charges: two counts of murder for the deaths of Sh’Quiya Carpenter and Shedrick McAlister, one count of attempted murder for the third victim, shooting into a dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In the wake of the violence, law enforcement sought to reassure the community. "Two lives have been lost, another person is fighting for their life, and families are hurting," Assistant Chief Thompson said in a statement. "Our hearts and prayers are with them. We will continue working to see that justice is served." He affirmed the department’s "commitment to holding individuals accountable for violent crime in Meridian" and stated there was no ongoing threat to the public.
The case against Tommy Lard was set to move through the Lauderdale County court system. As of late October 2026, the investigation was considered active and ongoing. Authorities had not released information regarding a motive for the shooting. Lard is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
