In the early hours of a September morning in 2014, the life of 20-year-old Quendez Robinson of Batesville, Mississippi, was tragically cut short. On September 20th, Robinson was at the Hilltop Grocery, a rural store in the Curtis Station community, about seven miles northwest of Batesville, when gunfire erupted around 1:00 a.m. The grocery store was reportedly the scene of a party at the time.
During the incident, both Robinson and another man, 24-year-old Rodrick Scurlock of Pope, were
shot. Scurlock died at the scene, while Robinson was transported to Tri-Lakes Medical Center, where he succumbed to a gunshot wound. At least two other individuals were also wounded in the shooting but were expected to recover. There were initial reports of a possible fifth person being grazed by a bullet.
The Panola County Sheriff’s Department launched an investigation into the double homicide. Sheriff Dennis Darby stated at the time that the shooting was believed to be the result of a confrontation between rival gangs. He described the event as an 'ambush-style' shooting, suggesting that an altercation that began inside the store escalated dramatically when the victims went outside.
In the immediate aftermath, authorities questioned several individuals in connection with the shooting. However, despite the presence of numerous witnesses, the investigation faced challenges. As of the end of 2014, the murders of Quendez Robinson and Rodrick Scurlock remained unsolved, with no arrests having been made in the case. The community was left seeking answers as the investigation into the violent deaths of the two young men continued.
