Bond set at $2M for suspect as new details emerge about fatal shooting
New details about an alleged murderfor-hire plot emerged in court on Monday following a fatal shooting last Friday at a Starkville apartment complex.
In Starkville Municipal Court, 27-yearold Starkville native Henry Lee Neal, Jr., was read his formal charge of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the shooting death of 33-year-old Joseph Turnipseed, Jr.
During his hearing, Neal — wearing an orange jumpsuit and bulletproof vest — was cordial with city officials, but could be seen shaking his head slightly in disagreement as the accusations were read aloud.
Turnipseed, a resident of the Blackjack community, was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound after police responded to a shots fired call at West Main Arms apartments at the intersection of West Main Street and South Long Street, sometime around 10 p.m. Friday.
Neal had an initial appearance and probable cause hearing in Starkville Municipal Court Monday, where investigators laid out additional details in the case.
SPD Detective Jonathan Headley took the stand and said evidence showed Neal had approached multiple people, offering $5,000 to assist in killing Turnipseed.
Headley said after the shooting, investigators were approached by multiple people corroborating the plot and contact with Neal, with one individual willing to go on record with investigators that they had been offered money to help kill Turnipseed.
He then said none of the individuals who approached investigators agreed to assist Neal in his plot.
Neal became a suspect just a short time after the shooting and was quickly located and arrested.
Headley said investigators spoke with Neal, who would only divulge that he and Turnipseed “did not get along.”
As new details were released in court, he then said investigators have evidence for a pending case, but declined to reveal details in open court due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Following the recommendation from the Starkville Police Department, Municipal Judge Brian Kelley set bond at $2 million for Neal on the single felony count.
Investigators recommended the high bond due to Neal's past criminal record, which includes three counts of domestic violence, a conviction for armed robbery and selling cocaine.
At the time of the shooting, Neal was out on $10,000 bond after being indicted