A workplace argument on a Monday morning in Byhalia, Mississippi, ended in the death of 26-year-old DeAndre Jones. The incident occurred between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. at Griffin Inc., a company that manufactures armored vehicles located on Highway 178 East. Jones and a coworker, 28-year-old Lamont Burchette, had reportedly exchanged words in the past, but no one anticipated it would escalate to such a violent conclusion.
On the morning of the shooting, Burchette was at his workstation inside a vehicle when he asked for permission to go outside. He then walked to his 2012 Jeep Liberty, drove to the rear of the facility, and re-entered the plant on foot. He approached Jones and opened fire. According to witnesses, after Jones fell to the floor from the initial volley of shots, Burchette stood over him and shot him several more times in the head and body area. The weapon used was believed to be a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and numerous spent casings were later found at the scene.
Immediately after the shooting, Burchette fled the scene in his grey Jeep, heading west on Highway 178. A 'Be On The Lookout' alert was issued to area law enforcement agencies. Jones was critically wounded and airlifted to the Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, but he succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital.
A manhunt for Burchette ended just a few hours later. Around 11 a.m., officers with the Memphis Police Department's Organized Crime Unit spotted his Jeep Liberty at a park. After a pursuit, Burchette stopped the vehicle, attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended. He was taken into custody and charged with murder. Authorities in Marshall County, Mississippi, immediately began the process to have him extradited from Memphis to face the charges.
