Covington Police are searching for two men they say are suspects in a homicide that took place Sunday afternoon.
At approximately 12:55 p.m., 19-year-old Dontavious Edwards was shot on Wooten Street. He was airlifted to the Regional One Medical Center in Memphis where he underwent surgery and later died at approximately 10 p.m.
Caprice Peete and Terrance Taylor II, both 22, have been named the suspects in the first-degree murder.
Peete and Taylor reportedly fled in a bronze Buick Lacrosse.
Shortly after Edwards died there was a retaliatory shooting on Walters Street at the home of one of the suspects. No one was injured in that incident.
Both shootings are believed to be gang-related.
Police are hoping tips from the public will help them locate Peete and Taylor.
“We have some leads and information about their whereabouts, but we have no reason to believe they are in Covington,” he said.
There was an additional shots fired call in the neighborhood between the square and the Depot District, however Lindsey said they could find no victim and no other information. Shots fired calls are those in which a resident reports hearing gunfire.
“We didn’t find anything over there,” Lindsey said. “It was a really busy day, though.”
Peete, who was shot on Wooten Street on Christmas Day 2018, may have been involved in the Sept. 30 murder of Nick Howard who was shot while driving over the Hatchie River bridge. Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office has not made any arrests and said the case is still under investigation.
In August 2018 Peete was charged with reckless endangerment and possession of a weapon during the commission of a dangerous felony. He has also been charged with drug possession.
In 2019, Taylor was arrested for unlawful possession of a weapon and spent 66 days in jail for possession of stolen property and tampering with evidence.
This was the first homicide in Covington this year.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact Sgt. William Nelson at 901-517-5580 or Lt. Rodney McCurry at 901-573-1586.
Author: Echo Day
Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. She is currently The Leader's managing editor.
