In the late autumn of 2019, the community of Starkville, Mississippi, was shaken by the violent and untimely death of 23-year-old Laterrence Dewon McCarter. An African American man, McCarter was found deceased on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 26, at the Brookville Garden Apartments on Highland Avenue. The Starkville Police Department responded to a call regarding a shooting at approximately 1:45 p.m. and discovered McCarter at the scene. His death was quickly ruled a homicide by the Oktibbeha County Coroner, and his body was sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy to officially determine the cause of death.
The investigation into McCarter's death led to the arrest of a suspect. Aviante Jordan, who was 16 years old at the time, was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting. The case against Jordan proceeded through the legal system, culminating in a trial.
In May 2023, the murder trial of Aviante Jordan concluded without a definitive resolution. After deliberating for seven hours, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in the judge declaring a mistrial. This outcome left the case in a state of legal limbo, with the District Attorney's office left to decide whether to pursue a new trial against Jordan for the death of Laterrence Dewon McCarter.
