The four teenagers arrested in connection with the death of a fellow schoolmate had their day in court Tuesday and by nightfall, two more were out on bond, leaving only one behind bars.
Lamarion Henderson, 18; Nickolus M. Brown, 16; Zacarias L. Steward, 15, and Ryan O. Spencer, 18, appeared in Grenada Municipal Court for their respective preliminary hearings. Each were arrested for their alleged involvement in the death of Grenada High School junior Ayden Reno, whose body was discovered on Sept. 22, in overgrown brush adjacent to a residence next to Honeytown Park in the 700 block of Leigh Avenue.
Ayden Reno
Municipal Court Judge James “Jimmy” P. Vance first informed Assistant District Attorney Mike Howie from Mississippi’s 5th Circuit Court District as well as the attorneys representing Brown and Spencer that Henderson and Steward – both of which have been charged with First-Degree Murder — Deliberate Design – had waived their rights to a preliminary hearing.
“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.
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 if 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.
Detective Sgt. Chris Brown with the Grenada Police Department took the stand and answered questions regarding the night of Reno’s death from both attorneys.
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 9mm pistols in both hands.
Following nearly an hour of testimony, Judge Vance advised ADA 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’s attorney later stated that his client acted in self-defense.
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, while Henderson remains in custody behind bars at the Grenada County Jail. All three murder suspects were arrested on Sept. 29. All four suspects are being charged as adults.
A large crowd of the suspects’ family and friends were present in the gallery as proceedings were held.
Nickolus M. Brown
Ryan O. Spencer
Lamarion Henderson
Zacarias L. Steward
