On the evening of October 7, 2011, Cedric Maxwell Morgan, a 30-year-old Black male, was navigating the streets of Natchez, Mississippi, accompanied by his wife, Crystal. The couple was in their vehicle near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Street and St. Catherine Street when they were suddenly approached by an armed individual. The assailant, identified later as Davarious Clemons, attempted to rob the couple at gunpoint, demanding their compliance in a confrontation that quickly
escalated into violence.
Morgan refused to submit to the demands of the gunman and attempted to flee the scene by driving away. As the vehicle began to move, Clemons fired his weapon, discharging a bullet that pierced the car and struck Morgan in the chest. Despite sustaining a critical wound, Morgan managed to continue driving for approximately three blocks in a desperate bid to escape. His physical state rapidly deteriorated, causing the vehicle to crash into a brick fence on Jefferson Street. By the time the Natchez Police Department arrived at the crash site, Morgan had succumbed to his injuries.
Law enforcement officers launched an investigation that led to the identification and arrest of Davarious Clemons. Authorities charged him with murder in connection with Morgan's death. Although Clemons initially entered a plea of not guilty, the legal proceedings took a turn in March 2013 when he accepted a plea agreement. He formally pleaded guilty to lesser charges of manslaughter and armed robbery, avoiding a capital murder trial.
During the sentencing hearing, the courtroom witnessed an emotional exchange as Morgan's mother addressed the man responsible for her son's death. In a profound act of grace, she offered her forgiveness to Clemons, expressing that her faith required it so she could one day be reunited with her son. The judge ultimately sentenced Clemons to serve 20 years for manslaughter and 45 years for armed robbery, with the terms ordered to run concurrently. Clemons expressed remorse for his actions and apologized to the grieving family before being taken into custody to begin his sentence.
