No. 8
Homicides up in Meridian, Lauderdale County

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Jan. 1, 2004
Meridian and Lauderdale County saw the number of reported homicides increase substantially in 2003.
Lauderdale County reported six homicides in 2003 compared to none in 2002 all stemmed from the July 8 Lockheed Martin shooting in which a worker killed six fellow employees before taking his own life.
In Meridian, the number of homicides also increased in 2003. So far this year, the city has had nine homicides compared to just two in 2002.
Capt. Jeff Lewis, a 23-year veteran with the Meridian Police Department, said homicides are often crimes of passion and are "nearly impossible to prevent." Some of the 2003 killings involved domestic disputes, including two that happened in December.