In the quiet town of Woodville, Mississippi, a community was left puzzled and searching for answers after the death of one of its own. Henry Dyer Jr., a 69-year-old Black man, was well-known and respected in the small town. Described by those who knew him as a quiet and kind-hearted individual, he was an upstanding member of the community who generally kept to himself. In the time leading up to his death, he had been dealing with some health issues.
The peaceful life he led made the circumstances of his passing all the more shocking to the residents of Woodville and the local law enforcement.
On the morning of May 22, 2024, the Woodville Police Department responded to a call on First West Street that would unravel a tragic story. They discovered that Henry Dyer Jr. had been shot and killed. The violent end to a quiet life sent ripples through the community. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, leaving both law enforcement and residents to wonder why anyone would harm the elderly man. The senselessness of the act left a profound impact on a town unaccustomed to such violence.
In the wake of the homicide, the Woodville Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to a suspect. Eric Chisholm, a native of Woodville, was arrested in connection with Dyer's death. Chisholm was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm within city limits, and tampering with evidence. The case proceeded to trial, where a Wilkinson County jury found Eric Chisholm guilty of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. For his crimes, a judge sentenced him to a total of 60 years in prison, with 40 years for the murder charge and an additional 10 years for each of the other two charges, to be served consecutively.
