Indianola, MS— Lexus James, 34 years of age, of Indianola, was convicted of First Degree Murder last Thursday, District Attorney Dewayne Richardson announced today.
On September 19, 2019, Indianola Police Department officers were called to the intersection of Bates Avenue and Walker Street just after 6:30 in the evening in response to a shot person. Upon their arrival, IPD officers observed first responders attempting to revive Mario Applewhite who had been shot multiple times in the back. They located his vehicle approximately 150 feet away crashed into a light pole. Detectives with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division arrived on scene to initiate their investigation.
Shortly after arriving on scene, investigators observed two sets of shell casings in the area where the victim was shot. Investigators overhead onlookers mentioning two names—Gereal Galloway and Lexus James. The investigation team approached the potential witnesses to confirm that Galloway and James were the shooters, but most of them did not want to provide formal statements. Detectives continued their investigation and were able to recover nearby video surveillance that captured the murder—it showed Mario Applewhite driving north on Bates toward the intersection of Bates and Walker while Galloway and James were walking south on Bates toward the intersection. As they approached the victim’s car, they began shooting. Mario attempted to escape but was only able to exit his car before falling to the ground with his car rolling forward. James and Galloway continued shooting after the victim was on the ground before fleeing the scene on foot. Galloway was arrested the next day and a forensic analysis of the clothing he was wearing in the video found gunshot residue. When James was arrested a month later, he told the investigators he was not involved in the murder, was not at the scene, and was not with Galloway that day. Following his release on bail, he was later arrested in central Mississippi on an unrelated charge and was in possession of a firearm that was tested by an expert and matched to shell casings found at the scene of the murder.
James and Galloway were jointly indicted, but James was tried separately. At trial, Assistant District Attorneys Takiyah Perkins and Kaylon McCou presented the video and murder weapon possessed by James in addition to the testimony of the responding officers and investigators along with an eye-witness that observed him running from the scene. James testified in his defense—he confessed that he lied to the investigators and claimed the real story was that the victim started shooting at them first, and that only Galloway shot back. In closing arguments, prosecutors for the state pointed out that James was a proven liar and that the video and physical evidence clearly conflicted with his story. “The victim was out numbered, clearly out gunned because he didn’t have one, and the defendants had the element of surprise when they ambushed him,” McCou argued in his closing. Following the four-day jury trial, a Sunflower County jury returned a verdict of guilty to First Degree Murder shortly before 8 o’ clock on Thursday. First Degree Murder carries a mandatory life sentence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Takiyah Perkins, Kaylon McCou, and Austin Frye. The District Attorney’s Office extends its gratitude for the thorough investigative work of current and former officers and investigators of the Indianola Police Department, as well as the Pearl Police Department, the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory, and the State Medical Examiner’s Office whose assistance led to the recovery of critical evidence. Perkins stated: “I would like to send a special ‘thank you’ to those citizens of the Indianola community who stepped up to provide statements, videos, and other helpful information to assist the cause of justice. Their actions highlight that public safety is a partnership between the community and law enforcement.” “And while this verdict will not undo Mario’s senseless murder, we hope that it may provide some comfort to his family as our office continues the work of bringing the second shooter to justice,” She added.
Gereal Galloway remains indicted for the murder of Mario Applewhite. By law he is considered not guilty until proven guilty.
Galloway is currently at-large. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Indianola Police Department or your local law enforcement immediately so that his case can proceed to trial.