A suspect is in custody in the death of Almond Turner, a member of the Newton County school board who was shot and killed in Mississippi over the weekend.
Turner, a retired Covington assistant police chief, died after a shooting during a family gathering Saturday. Covington police confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that the suspected shooter is Turner's nephew, 41-year-old Christopher Denson.
Denson was arrested on a charge of murder, The Meridian Star in Mississippi reported. His bond was set at $1 million.
Credit: The Meridian Star
Credit: The Meridian Star
Police in that city told the newspaper that Turner was shot about 8 p.m. Saturday while his family celebrated at an event hall.
At some point, Denson left the party, went to his vehicle and walked back inside armed with an AK-47 rifle, according to police. He allegedly fired five or six shots, killing his uncle.
The gun was eventually wrestled from the suspect by his brother and another family member, the Star reported. Denson was gone before police arrived.
On Sunday afternoon, the Covington Police Department announced that Meridian officers had arrested Denson at his apartment without incident.
Turner’s death has left his Newton County community reeling. Turner, 69, had served on the Newton County school board since 1996. He retired from the Covington Police Department in 2016 after 45 years on the force.
The department called him “one of the greatest men who ever wore this uniform.”
“The Covington Police Department is devastated and heartbroken to hear of the passing of Assistant Chief Almond Turner,” police spokesman Justin Stott said in a statement. “We are all shocked by the news. Our hearts go out to the Turner family as they try to understand what happened during this terrible tragedy. Our focus right now is on the Turner family and surrounding and supporting them any way we can.”
While on the school board, Turner led efforts to install cameras in all school buses and classrooms, according to the school district. He also worked to ensure that school policies were fair to students, teachers and administrators.
"We are stunned, devastated and heartbroken," Newton County Schools Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey said in a statement. "He always wanted and fought for what was best for our students and employees."
Turner graduated from R.L. Cousins High in Newton County in 1968 before attending Fort Valley State College, DeKalb Community College, Troy University and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, according to the school district.
Turner was a deacon at Springfield Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, three children and several grandchildren.
