The Grenada Police Department is investigating the city’s first homicide of 2021.
Officers, along with deputies with the Grenada County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the scene of a shooting Saturday afternoon on the 200 block of Spain Drive. Grenada Police Chief George Douglas identified the victim as Beverly Black, who died from injuries sustained from the shooting.
Douglas said officers arrived at the scene and following preliminary investigations, it revealed that Black had been shot inside the resident.
“The ambulance was dispatched to the scene as well as the Grenada County Coroner,” Douglas said. “The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. We ordered an autopsy to be performed.”
Those attending a nearby graveside service at Haven Rest Cemetery adjacent to Spain Drive said that they heard gunshots.
“I thought to myself that can’t be gunfire,” one woman at the cemetery, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “A few seconds later, there were police cars coming in, so I knew something was wrong.”
Later that day, officers arrested three people in connection with the shooting. Douglas identified those arrested as Malaysia Sawyer, 18, Aliya Harbin, 18, and Jimmy Sawyer, 50.
Douglas said Malaysia Sawyer is being charged with murder in connection with the shooting. He added that both Jimmy Sawyer and Harbin have been charged with accessory after the fact in connection with the shooting.
A motive or the caliber of gun used has not been released.
The murder remains under investigation, pending autopsy results.
