On the evening of May 13, 2024, emergency responders in Gulfport, Mississippi, were dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of 27th Street following reports of gunfire. Upon arrival at approximately 8:45 p.m., police discovered the body of Temi Elijah Juan Lawal, an 18-year-old Black male, who had succumbed to gunshot wounds at the scene. Another individual, 21-year-old Lorenzo Stennis of Pascagoula, was found suffering from multiple gunshot injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where he subsequently died.
Detectives with the Gulfport Police Department launched an investigation into the double shooting, which initially appeared to be a violent altercation. As investigators pieced together the events leading up to the gunfire, they determined that Lawal and Stennis, accompanied by a third associate, had allegedly targeted the residence for an armed robbery. According to police findings, the homeowners, whose identities were not released, used lethal force in self-defense during the intrusion, resulting in the deaths of the two young men. Authorities ultimately decided not to file charges against the homeowners, citing their right to defend themselves and their property.
The investigation shifted focus to the surviving member of the group, identified as 17-year-old Lawrence Corley IV of Gautier. Law enforcement officials alleged that Corley had conspired with Lawal and Stennis to commit the robbery. Under Mississippi law, an accomplice can be held criminally responsible for deaths that occur during the commission of a felony, regardless of who pulls the trigger. Consequently, Corley was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of his alleged accomplices.
Following his arrest, Lawrence Corley IV was processed and booked into the Harrison County Adult Detention Center. During his initial court appearance, a judge set his bond at $2 million. The case highlighted the severe legal consequences of felony murder statutes, where participation in a dangerous crime can lead to murder charges if fatalities result from the incident.
