CLEVELAND, Miss. — A 17-year-old Cleveland resident has been arrested in connection with a Wednesday shooting that left a 19-year-old man injured.
Officers with the Cleveland Police Department responded to a report of gunfire near 604 Lee Street on Oct. 8. When they arrived, they discovered that 19-year-old Samuel Smith had been shot in the left forearm and left calf. Smith was transported by private vehicle to Bolivar Medical Center, where he was treated and later released.
Following an investigation at the scene, police arrested Lajavion Purnell, 17, at his home. Authorities say Purnell was already out on bond from a 2023 indictment in Leflore County on charges of capital murder and conspiracy to commit robbery related to an incident in Greenwood.
Purnell appeared before Cleveland Municipal Judge Warren Bell on Thursday. He was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a machine gun conversion device. Due to his prior felony bond, Judge Bell denied bond in this case.
“I would personally like to commend our officers and investigators for their timely response to the scene and for their dedication and service to the residents of Cleveland,” said Police Chief Dudley Tribble. “It was because of their quick response to the situation that they were so quickly able to identify and arrest the suspect in the incident.”
The investigation is ongoing.
