Sturdivant pleads guilty to murder; to serve 15 years in prison – The Vicksburg Post

Markevius Sturdivant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Warren County courtroom on Tuesday.

Sturdivant’s plea related to an April 2023 incident in which he was involved in the death of 22-year-old Shemar Jashad Smith. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison with 15 years suspended and credit for time already served.

Sturdivant, represented by attorney Dennis Sweet, was initially arrested and charged with first-degree murder, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

The shooting happened in the 100 block of Kings Drive in north Vicksburg, police said. Witnesses reported seeing Smith running from a man dressed in all black. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Smith in the 200 block of Walters Street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey pronounced Smith dead at the scene.

Surveillance video shows a man matching Sturdivant’s description shooting Smith. A garbage bag containing ammunition and jeans believed to have been worn during the crime were later found at Sturdivant’s mother’s home.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Sturdivant said he was deeply sorry for the loss of life and asked the court for mercy. He apologized to Smith’s grandmother, who was present. Smith’s grandmother also spoke at the hearing, saying she didn’t hate the defendant, just what he did, and that she prayed he would understand his actions were wrong.

The motive for the shooting is not known.