Pascagoula murder suspect arrested, victim identified

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) - The victim of a Sunday night homicide has been identified, and his murder suspect is behind bars.

Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd has identified the victim as 68-year-old Claude Eugene Bivins, Jr. of Pascagoula. According to Lynd, his death is related to a gunshot wound, but an autopsy will be performed later this week.

Kevin Wayne Sherrod, 45, was arrested on a charge of capital murder, according to police.

Sherrod’s charges were later downgraded after further investigation by police to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and probation violation.

Sunday night around 7:40 p.m., police responded to a report of a homicide at an apartment complex on 1115 Agnes Street in Pascagoula. Officers found Bivins suffering from a gunshot wound. They tried to save him, but were unsuccessful. Police say Bivins died at the scene.

Officers saw 45-year-old Kevin Wayne Sherrod, who matched a description of the suspect, running from the scene. They chased him and eventually took him into custody.

Pascagoula Police say officers found a firearm Sherrod had thrown away. Sherrod was previously tried and convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2014. According to Police Chief Matt Chapman, his having a firearm elevates the murder charge to a capital murder charge, since he is a convicted felon possessing a firearm.

This is an active investigation being conducted by the Pascagoula Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

If you have any information about this incident, contact the Pascagoula Police Department at 228-762-2211.

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