Greene authorities continue murder investigation
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 20, 2005
GREENE COUNTY-Greene County Sheriff Johnny Isaac said Monday they are getting closer to making an arrest in the shooting death of Marquis Rice.
Greene County Sheriff Johnny Isaac said they were continuing to gather evidence and hoped they were in the latter stages of the investigation prior to making an arrest.
“We believe we know who did it,” Isaac said. “We are still having some problems with witnesses and we want to make sure that we have everything we need because there was a lot of shooting going on.”
Isaac said they would continue to gather facts, but felt an arrest could be in the near future.
The incident occurred when an argument outside the Club in Greene County ended in gunshots. The shooting occurred around 2 a.m. Saturday morning on Aug. 13.
When the shots ceased Rice, 21, of Eutaw had been fatally wounded. Rice was transported to Carrolton Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The problems began inside the club earlier that night when a member of Rice’s party hugged the girlfriend of participant in the scuffle. The boyfriend in the case apparently took offense and eventually the two sides squared off. Though Rice received the most serious injuries, bullets struck several others. Anthony Thomas, 32, of Ralph, Dedrick Kirkman, 24, of Ralph, and Demetrius Little, 22, were all shot in the leg during the shootings. All were treated and released. Alvin Underwood, of Eutaw, was also reported to have had his vehicle struck by gunfire. However, Underwood escaped injury.
Authorities estimated about two-dozen shots were fired in the incident.
As many as six people were questioned the weekend of the incident and Isaac said they would continue to investigate until all questions are answered.