Ahmarus Rakim Swinney, a 25-year-old Black male, tragically lost his life on the night of April 4, 2015, in Corinth, Mississippi. The evening was shattered by the sound of gunfire at the Nashway Apartments, where a violent shootout erupted, leaving both Swinney and 22-year-old Deonta Dwayne Herman dead. The scene was described as chaotic, with law enforcement estimating that as many as 80 to 100 shots were fired, suggesting a gang-related altercation.
According to Swinney's family, he was attempting to break up a fight when he was fatally shot.
The Corinth Police Department, including the police chief who personally heard the barrage of gunfire, immediately launched an investigation into the double homicide. The sheer number of rounds fired created a perilous environment, making it difficult for investigators to immediately identify those involved as people fled in every direction. The violence of that night sent shockwaves through the Corinth community.
In the aftermath of the shooting, an Alcorn County Grand Jury handed down indictments for two suspects. Marcus McGaha, 27, and Cedric Gunn, 27, were each charged with one count of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. At the time of the indictments, law enforcement officials indicated that the investigation was ongoing and that more arrests were possible. Despite the initial charges, information regarding the final outcome of the legal proceedings, including any trials or convictions for McGaha and Gunn, has not been made publicly available in the years since the incident.
