In the late evening hours of August 26, 2020, the community of Tunica, Mississippi, was shaken by an act of violence that claimed the life of 39-year-old Demarco Peaches. A Black male, Peaches was well-known in the area, and his sudden death sent ripples of shock and grief through those who knew him. The tragic events unfolded shortly before 10 p.m.
near Highway 61, between Gay and Anderson Streets, when the sound of gunfire pierced the night.
Law enforcement and first responders were dispatched to the scene following a 911 call reporting the shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Demarco Peaches inside a vehicle, unresponsive. Despite the efforts of those at the scene, he was pronounced dead by the Tunica County Deputy Coroner. The initial investigation pointed towards a drive-by shooting, a senseless act that cut Peaches' life short.
Eyewitnesses to the shooting were able to provide investigators from the Tunica County Sheriff's Office with a crucial piece of information: a description of the vehicle seen leaving the area at the time of the incident. This lead proved to be pivotal, as deputies were able to locate the vehicle in question at the Tunica Courts Apartments. The discovery of the vehicle and subsequent investigation led authorities to a suspect.
Calvin Hurd III, a 22-year-old resident of Tunica, was identified as the individual allegedly involved in the fatal shooting. The Tunica County Sheriff's Office secured warrants for his arrest, and he was taken into custody. Hurd was subsequently charged with murder and drive-by shooting in connection with the death of Demarco Peaches. Following his arrest, he was held in the custody of the Tunica County Sheriff's Office to await his initial appearance before a judge. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Demarco Peaches continued as the community mourned the loss of one of its own.
