In the fall of 2017, the life of a young man from the Tupelo, Mississippi area was tragically cut short. Lorenzo Wright Jr., a 17-year-old male, was involved in an altercation that ultimately led to his death. On the evening of October 26, 2017, in the nearby town of Verona, witnesses reported hearing an argument between two men, followed by the sound of a single gunshot.
Lorenzo was discovered to have been shot once in the abdomen.
He was rushed to the North Mississippi Medical Center for treatment, but tragically succumbed to his injuries and passed away. The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a suspect who was seen with Lorenzo earlier that day.
Authorities arrested 26-year-old Brandon Rucker of Okolona in connection with the shooting. Initially, Rucker was charged with first-degree murder. However, in February 2019, he reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Rucker pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter for his role in the death of Lorenzo Wright Jr.
Following his guilty plea, the court sentenced Brandon Rucker to serve 12 years in prison. In addition to his prison sentence, the judge ordered that Rucker would also have to complete five years of probation upon his release.
