Two children were shot to death and died after a hostage situation at an apartment complex in Mississippi early Monday, police said. Authorities responded to a call in Jonestown about 2 a.m. When they arrived, they found 25-year-old Marquez Griffin apparently holding a child at gunpoint, according to a news release from the Coahoma County Sheriff's Office.
An off-duty deputy who lives in the area heard the call over the radio and went to the scene. Upon arrival, the off-duty deputy and other sheriff's deputies engaged in an hours-long standoff with Griffin.
Authorities spotted Griffin holding a child at gunpoint inside the apartment.
At some point, deputies convinced Griffin to drop his weapon and to get the child to safety. He was immediately taken into custody before authorities entered the residence and discovered two other children who were injured.
Deputies said a 9-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl had received apparent gunshot wounds at the home, the news release stated.
The boy was pronounced dead at the scene, and the girl was rushed to a hospital in Clarksdale, where she died from her injuries.
Authorities did not release the children's identities at the time of the incident.
The grandmother of the 1-year-old girl, however, identified her as Averi Jones. In an interview with WREG, the woman shared heartbreaking details about the infant's death.
"I just want everyone to know that Averi Baby was a sweet baby. She didn't deserve this," Melrose Haile told the news outlet. "Her mom told me she was asleep and he put a pillow over her head and shot her in her head."
The grieving grandmother also said several other children were in the apartment at the time of the shooting.
Haile said Griffin was a 'friend' of the child's mother.
“She told me they were friends and how could a friend do this to you?” Haile said.
Griffin had recently moved back to the area from Arlington, Texas. He was arrested and taken to the Coahoma County Adult Detention Center. He has been charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault, police said.
Police said the motive remains unclear, and the case still is being investigated.
