In the quiet town of Sardis, Mississippi, the life of 40-year-old Marcus Wheatley was brought to a tragic and violent end on July 19, 2023. A Black male, Wheatley was fatally shot at his residence on Highway 35 North. The Panola County Sheriff's Office responded to a call around 12:30 p.m. and discovered Wheatley deceased, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation quickly pointed to a suspect: 20-year-old Cadarrius Pride, a rapper known professionally as 'Superstar Pride'. Wheatley was reportedly Pride's barber and the two were considered to be close. The motive for the shooting is believed to have stemmed from Wheatley's inability to accompany Pride to California for a music video shoot. The situation escalated tragically when Pride allegedly entered Wheatley's home, pursued him, and shot him multiple times. This horrific event was witnessed by Wheatley's grandmother, Mary Ann Strong. Strong recounted that after shooting her grandson, Pride pointed the gun at her and questioned if she would report the incident before firing a final shot into Wheatley's head.
Later that same day, Pride's family contacted law enforcement to inform them that he wished to surrender. At 4:47 p.m., Pride turned himself in to authorities and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. He was booked into the Panola County Detention Center and was later denied bond. In the wake of Wheatley's death, there have been subsequent shootings in the area that authorities believe may be connected to this incident, including targeted attacks on individuals close to Pride.
