JACKSON Tenn, (March 9, 2017) – Police say two people are dead after a Thursday morning shooting in Bemis. The Jackson police are investigating the case as a homicide. According to Jackson Police Department chief Julian Wiser, 911 received a call about shots fired at approximately 6:45 AM Thursday morning. When police arrived on the scene they discovered two deceased bodies. The first was located inside a residence in the 400 block of S. Massachusetts St. Witnesses information led police to the discovery of a second body in a wooded area near the residence.
Sources close to the story say the victim found inside the home is Paulette Garrett. Neighbors are shocked at the news, The Garrett family are described as pillars in the community.
Police tell us they are not looking for any additional suspects and believe the body discovered behind the residence is that of the person responsible.
According to Gibson County District Attorney Garry Brown, Christopher Byron Armstrong, of Milan, was scheduled to go on trial Thursday in connection with a December 2014 aggravated assault and attempted aggravated robbery. Brown tells us that Paulette Garrett was to be a witness in that trial.
In December 2014 the Milan Mirror Exchange reported, 20-year-old Christopher Byron Armstrong was arrested in connection with an attempted aggravated robbery that occurred on a parking lot in Milan Tennessee. Armstrong allegedly approached a victim in a car and pointed a weapon demanding money. When the victim stated that police have been contacted Armstrong fled. He was later taken into custody and charged and subsequently released on a $50,000 bond. Milan police investigators determined that the weapon used was a BB gun made to look like a 38 caliber revolver.
According to District Attorney Brown, the case against Christopher Armstrong will be abated due to his death.
Friends describe Paulette Garrett as a giving and loving friend. A church friend of Garrett’s described her generosity and kindness to all as what would drive her to cook for weeks before Christmas so that the family would have plenty to share with anyone that didn’t have a place to be for the holiday. Another friend said ” whatever this person had wanted she would’ve gladly given it to them, they didn’t have to kill her”.
Friends and family held a vigil Thursday afternoon at the Bemis First Baptist Church to offer support and comfort to one another.
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