On a summer evening in Centreville, Mississippi, the life of 18-year-old Darrius Morris was tragically cut short. On July 5, 2014, Morris was shot and killed, his death setting off an investigation that would soon lead to the arrest of three of his teenage acquaintances. The male victim's death was the result of a single gunshot wound to his body.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on three suspects: Treyon Washington, 18, of Kenner, Louisiana; D’Darius Sullivan, 16, of Centreville;
and Branden Pouncil, 18, also of Centreville. All three were known to be friends with Morris. The motive for the shooting, as described by law enforcement, was a dispute over a four-wheeler. Authorities reported that Morris had allegedly stolen the vehicle from Washington.
According to the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the events leading to Morris's death began with a confrontation over the missing four-wheeler. Washington, Sullivan, and Pouncil allegedly conspired to murder Morris in retaliation for the theft. The plan was reportedly for Sullivan to lure Morris to a specific location under the pretense of a friendly meeting. When Morris arrived, Washington was waiting and allegedly fired the fatal shot. Pouncil was also implicated in the planning and execution of the crime.
Following the shooting, all three suspects were arrested and charged with murder. They were held in the Wilkinson County Jail. The arrests brought a swift, though somber, resolution to the initial phase of the investigation into the death of Darrius Morris, leaving the community to grapple with the loss of a young life and the serious charges faced by his peers.
