Event Center murder suspect appears in court and pleads not guilty

JACKSON, TN. — The man believed to be responsible for shooting nine people and killing one woman at a north Jackson event center early Sunday morning was arraigned Friday.

Matthew Berry was charged with aggravated murder in addition to attempted second-degree murder.

Berry actually went on trial. His attorney, Michael Burton, appeared on his behalf.

Berry pleaded not guilty to the charges. The state is seeking Berry to be held without bond.

“The judge, taking into account the nature of the charges and the facts set forth in the warrant, the state asks to detain him, in particular, on the charge of aggravated murder,” the prosecutor’s office said.

“He will be held without bail. No bail, yes,” Judge Blake Anderson said.

According to the warrant, around 1 a.m. on Oct. 20, the Jackson Police Department responded to 23-10 North Highland Avenue for a shooting. When the police arrived at the scene, they found nine gunshot victims.

Two victims were airlifted to a Memphis hospital. Lar’Kuria Roberson was shot in the abdomen and forearm and later died of her injuries.

One of the victims was shot twice in the back and then paralyzed as a result of the shot. The police examined the scene of the crime and recovered eight 9-millimeter spent cartridges and one live cartridge of .38 caliber.

According to the preliminary conclusions of the expert examination, all eight spent cartridges were fired from the same weapon. Berry was identified in a group of six as the person who opened fire into the crowd of people at the center of the event.

The shooting happened indoors during what JPD says was a large party.

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