In the early morning hours of January 11, 2017, the community of Lexington, Mississippi, was disturbed by a grim discovery. The body of 17-year-old Cordarius Coats, a Black/African American male, was found on the back steps of a home on Carrollton Street at approximately 3:00 a.m. by the homeowner. An investigation by the Lexington Police Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation was promptly initiated. It was determined that Coats had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide. His body was sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
As investigators began to piece together the events leading to the young man's death, details emerged suggesting the killing was not a random act of violence. The victim's father, Lee Coats, shared his belief that his son knew his killer. He recounted a dispute that had occurred about five months prior at a nightclub between his son and another individual. According to the father's account, the person suspected of the shooting had reportedly convinced Cordarius to get into a vehicle with the promise of settling their past differences. Tragically, it is believed that this encounter led to the fatal shooting.
The death of Cordarius Coats, known to some as 'lil coat,' sent ripples of shock and sorrow through the Lexington community, where such violent events were considered rare. Friends and neighbors expressed their grief, and a tribute reading 'R.I.P' was spray-painted on a nearby trailer in his memory. While the police acknowledged that the victim and the suspect likely knew each other, they did not publicly release specific details about a suspect or a motive. At the time, authorities indicated that they were making progress in the investigation and expected to file charges soon. However, despite these initial statements, information regarding any subsequent arrests, charges, or convictions in the murder of Cordarius Coats has not been made publicly available.
