In the quiet town of Holly Springs, Mississippi, the life of 51-year-old Charles Edward Matthews, a self-employed handyman, was tragically cut short on the evening of October 31, 2017. As Halloween trick-or-treating was winding down, Matthews was discovered lying in the street near his truck at the intersection of Center Street and Falconer. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his arms and chest. Despite the immediate response of paramedics, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Holly Springs Police Department swiftly initiated a homicide investigation. Eyewitnesses at the scene reported seeing a gray Nissan Altima flee the area at high speed shortly after the shooting. It was also reported that an altercation had taken place between Matthews and another individual just before the fatal shots were fired. This information led investigators to identify a primary suspect in the case.
Authorities arrested Thaddeus Scales, a 41-year-old resident of Holly Springs, and charged him with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his arrest, Scales confessed to the shooting, stating that it was the result of a dispute between himself and Matthews. Scales had a prior conviction from 2009 for possession of a controlled substance. A judge set his bond at $500,000. While a large crowd was reportedly present during the incident, no other suspects were identified, and the weapon used in the shooting was not recovered.
