Maranda Faris

The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun

DYERSBURG, Tenn. — A man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 21-year-old mother who was shot Thursday night during a child's birthday party in northwest Tennessee. Six others were injured, including a 6-year-old.

Dyersburg Police Chief Steve Isbell confirmed Shanice Amerson was shot and killed at her 2-year-old's birthday party.

Torius Saville Russell, 29, has been charged in her death.

Isbell said Russell was in a vehicle that drove past the house around 4:15 p.m. CT Thursday with at least one passenger showing a gun out the window.

Dad told police he accidentally shot 11-year-old daughter who startled him

Russell returned about two hours later, Isbell said, and opened fire on the birthday party. Isbell said information police received indicates between 75 and 100 people were at the home for the child's birthday when Russell walked into the yard and started shooting.

No motive has been confirmed and police could not confirm whether the shooting was targeted.

"The event that occurred last night in our community is not a typical occurrence in our community," said Mayor John Holden during a news conference.

Isbell said the tragic shooting has affected the entire city. Dyersburg is a city of nearly 17,000 about 79 miles northeast of Memphis.

"Any time you have violence occur in the community, it's alarming. When you have children involved, it's disturbing," he said. "It initially started out as a celebration for a 2-year-old child's birthday, and now this child will celebrate no more birthdays with his mother. And that's something that should be upsetting to us all."

Lakisha Rolling, 38, was airlifted to a hospital in Memphis with multiple gunshot wounds. The 6-year-old was airlifted to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, also in Memphis.

Latonia Reenis Hunt, 22, Mazie Jacobs, 37, Charles Jackson, 23, Dillet McVay, 32, and a 12-year-old were treated and released.

Neighbors said that shortly before the shooting, a car drove through the normally quiet neighborhood with passengers flashing guns out the windows of the car at people on the porch of the home.

A memorial of teddy bears, holding Amerson's graduation photo, now sits beside the front porch steps where she died.

Family members gathered on the front lawn of the home early Friday morning, but said they did not want to comment.

Russell has prior charges including weapons convictions, evading arrest and domestic violence, according to his Tennessee Bureau of Investigation record.

He is currently held on $2.5 million bond after his arraignment in Dyersburg City Court on Friday morning. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 28.

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