In the fall of 2021, a violent encounter in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, claimed the life of Carlos McGruder, a 37-year-old Black / African American male from the nearby city of Laurel. The incident unfolded on the evening of November 8, 2021, outside of a Holiday Inn situated on Highway 49. McGruder sustained critical injuries in a shooting that took place at the hotel. Emergency services responded to the scene, and he was quickly transported to a local hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, his injuries proved to be too severe, and he succumbed to them two days later, on November 10, 2021.
Following McGruder's death, the Hattiesburg Police Department swiftly escalated their investigation from a shooting to a homicide case. Their inquiries soon led them to identify two suspects, both hailing from Texas. An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Trenderrious Brock, who was 21 years old at the time. In a significant development, Brock later surrendered to law enforcement authorities in Texas. He was subsequently extradited back to Mississippi to face the charges against him and was booked into the Forrest County Jail.
The investigation did not stop with Brock's apprehension. Authorities identified a second individual, 20-year-old Juan Ra'Shawn Cole, as another primary suspect in connection with McGruder's death. Consequently, a first-degree murder warrant was also issued for his arrest. The Hattiesburg Police Department has actively sought information from the public regarding Cole's whereabouts as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Carlos McGruder's untimely death continues.
