Six weeks after the shooting death of a 16-year-old Grenada High School student and subsequent arrests of four of the victim’s schoolmates a week later, the case has taken an unexpected turn.
Grenada Police Department Detective Sgt. Chris Brown, who was leading the investigation into Ayden Reno’s murder, has resigned. He gave the department notice on Wednesday, Oct. 22, with his last day being last Friday, Nov. 7.
Sgt. Brown would not go into details to why he made the decision to leave the department after more than two decades, however, did cite “unforeseen conditions” as his professional motivation for departing.
Reno’s body was discovered on Sept. 22, in overgrown brush adjacent to a residence next to Honeytown Park in the 700 block of Leigh Avenue.
GHS students Lamarion Henderson, 18; Nickolus M. Brown, 16; Zacarias L. Steward, 15, and Ryan O. Spencer, 18, appeared in Grenada Municipal Court on Oct. 14, for their respective preliminary hearings. Each were arrested for their alleged involvement in Reno’s death.
Henderson and Steward — both of which have been charged with First-Degree Murder — Deliberate Design —waived their rights to a preliminary hearing with Municipal Court Judge James “Jimmy” P. Vance.
“I’m going to bind you over to wait for the action of the Grand Jury and they will determine whether or not there’s sufficient evidence to make you stand trial before a jury of 12 people,” Judge Vance explained to Henderson and Steward as they stood before him.
Chris Brown
Judge Vance went on to lower the duo’s bond amounts from $250,000 to $100,000 apiece. He also said that they would be required to wear electronic monitoring devices when they bonded out of jail.
Brown — represented by TreMarcus Rosemon — and Spencer — represented by Bradley Daigneault — both elected to have their preliminary hearings. Brown has also been charged with First-Degree Murder — Deliberate Design, while Spencer was charged with Accessory After The Fact.
Sgt. Brown testified that officers with the GPD responded to reports of shots fired in the area approximately 90 minutes prior to discovering Reno’s body. It was also revealed that the shooting is believed to be the result of an alleged “gun exchange” gone bad, that more than a dozen shell casings were collected for evidence including three .40 caliber and 14 from a high-powered AR-15-style rifle, that Reno died from a gunshot wound to the jaw area and that once discovered, he had a 9mm pistol in each hand.
Following nearly an hour of testimony, Judge Vance advised Assistant District Attorney Mike Howie and attorneys Rosemon and Daigneault that Brown and Spencer would also be bound over to the Grand Jury. In addition, he lowered Brown’s bond from $250,000 to $150,000. Later, Rosemon requested that Judge Vance lower Brown’s bond to $100,000, which was denied. However, he did lower it another $25,000 to $125,000.
Brown and Steward later made bond, according to City Prosecutor Robbie Willis-Wilson. Spencer remains out on his initial $20,000 bond that he made shortly after being arrested on Sept. 30. A few days later, Henderson was able to make bond. All three murder suspects were arrested on Sept. 29. All four suspects are being charged as adults.
“Since the cases were bound over to wait the action of the Grand Jury, I’m very hopeful that the District Attorney’s Office will make sure this case gets the continued attention that it deserves,” Willis-Wilson said after learning of Sgt. Brown’s resignation.
Sgt. Brown, who was raised in Calhoun City, moved to Grenada in 1991. He first pinned his badge on at the GPD in October 2004. He served in the department for 21 years, nine of which as a detective. He is a certified investigator with the State of Mississippi as well as a Certified Human Trafficking Investigator. During his career, he was awarded two life-saving awards and the Medal of Valor for his exemplary service.
GPD Chief George Douglas and City Manager Dr. Trina George did not respond to The Star’s requests for comment regarding the status of the Reno case or Sgt. Brown’s resignation.
