Greenville, MS— Lonnell Moore, Sr., 47, of Hollandale, was sentenced to forty years following his guilty pleas in April, District Attorney Dewayne Richardson announced today.
Moore was charged in the August 2021 shooting death of Jermaine Summage in Arcola, Mississippi. An investigation into the shooting was initiated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office following calls for emergency assistance just outside of a small local shop on Main Street. When deputies and investigators arrived they were informed by witnesses that Summage was sitting outside with them hanging out when a maroon SUV came to an abrupt stop in front of them. They described how Moore, Sr. exited the passenger side of the vehicle and walked right up to Summage and shot him at point blank range. Moore then attempted to shoot one of the men sitting with Summage who tried to intervene but there was an apparent malfunction with the firearm. After the gun did not discharge, the two eye-witnesses attempted to apprehend Moore, Sr. before his son, Lonnell Moore, Jr., approached them at gun point threatening them and demanding that they release his father. They reluctantly complied and Moore, Sr. and Moore, Jr. left the scene. After the responding law enforcement officers relayed the suspect information, they located and arrested Moore, Sr. a short time later. He was later indicted for the Murder and Attempted Murder.
Moore, Sr. appeared in the Circuit Court of Washington County on Tuesday, April 11th, and pled guilty to Second Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and Witness Intimidation. He was sentenced to the District Attorney’s recommendation of forty (40) years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with thirty-five (35) years to serve, and the remaining 5 years on Post-Release Supervision.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kaylon McCou who expressed the District Attorney Office’s gratitude for the confidence of the Summage family and the swift investigation and action of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in investigating this homicide and quickly apprehending this violent offender. “Knowing that this defendant will spend the next three decades in prison cannot replace Jermaine’s presence in the lives of his family and friends, but it hopefully provides some sense of justice and closure for them as they continue to heal from this senseless tragedy,” McCou added