In the early morning hours of a Sunday in Edwards, Mississippi, the quiet of the Brandon Arms Apartment complex was shattered by the sound of gunfire. On January 26, 2020, 57-year-old Michael Anthony Lawson was found shot to death outside one of the apartment buildings. The violence did not end there, as another resident, 27-year-old Djuana Robinson, was also found deceased in her apartment from gunshot wounds.
A child's 911 call alerted the Hinds County Sheriff's Office to the tragic scene.
Investigators quickly identified a suspect in the double homicide: 19-year-old Justin Mosley. Authorities reported that Mosley allegedly shot Lawson before kicking in the door to Robinson's apartment and shooting her. At the time of the shooting, Robinson's three young children, a six-year-old and two toddlers, were present in the home but were unharmed. While a motive for the killings was not immediately released, it was believed that the suspect knew at least one of his victims.
Following the incident, a manhunt for Mosley ensued, with law enforcement considering him armed and dangerous. In addition to the murder and capital murder charges stemming from the double homicide, Mosley was also wanted for a house burglary that had occurred at the same apartment complex earlier that month. After days on the run, U.S. Marshals located and arrested Mosley in Bolton. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Raymond Detention Center. Authorities stated they did not anticipate any further arrests in the case.
Michael Anthony Lawson was born on September 13, 1962, in Raymond, Mississippi. He was educated at Hinds County Public Schools and Hinds Junior College and worked as an automotive refinisher. He was a father of two and a grandfather. Those who knew him remembered his beautiful smile and described him as a dear and true friend.
