On May 27, 2017, eight people were fatally shot in a spree killing that took place in Lincoln County, Mississippi, United States. The perpetrator, Willie Cory Godbolt, sustained an injury to his arm in a shootout with victim Ferral Burage and Godbolt was subsequently arrested.[1]
Shootings
The shootings began at around 11:30 p.m. at a house in Bogue Chitto. Deputy William Durr, a 36-year-old police officer, along with Barbara Mitchell, and Brenda and Toccara May were murdered at that house.[2][3] Godbolt then drove to a house in Brookhaven in which he murdered 18-year old Jordan Blackwell and 11-year old Austin Edwards.[4] A 15-year old survived by playing dead.[5] He then drove to another home and murdered Ferral and Sheila Burage.[6] Ferral fired four times at the shooter, striking him once in the arm, before he and Shelia were killed by numerous bullets.[7] Four weapons were found at the crime scenes by investigators – 2 .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handguns, and 2 assault rifles, a .300 Blackout and a Zastava Serbia. In court testimony the Blackout was described in court testimony only as “an AR-type gun”, the Zastava Serbia was described only as “an AK-type firearm.” One of the handguns found at a crime scene was owned by Burrage, not by Godbolt.[8][9]
The perpetrator, 35-year-old Cory Godbolt, was shot and wounded by police and taken to hospital for treatment. At the same time, being arrested, Godbolt told a reporter that he had intended to commit suicide by cop and deserved to die for his actions. Godbolt's wife and their children were unharmed.[10]
Perpetrator
The perpetrator of the shootings, Willie Cory Godbolt (born May 1, 1982), then 35, has an extensive criminal record dating back to 2005, including arrests for armed robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, driving with a suspended license, and disorderly conduct.[11] He was most recently arrested in 2016 for assault.[12] Godbolt was described by a relative as having "episodes" before the shooting.[13]
Godbolt stated to reporter Therese Apel from The Clarion-Ledger, who interviewed him during his arrest, that he had gone to the Bogue Chitto house to talk with his estranged wife, her mother, and stepfather about taking his children back home and that one of them called the police, ultimately leading to the shooting. Apel's video also documents him appearing to tell authorities where to find Sheila Burrage's body and saying that he would tell police where all the victims were if they would get a deputy off his back.[10]
Godbolt was formally indicted in March 2018.[14] His trial started on February 15, 2020.[15] On February 25, 2020, he was convicted of multiple counts of capital murder for the shootings.[16] Two days later, Godbolt was sentenced to death. Godbolt is currently confined at Mississippi State Penitentiary in Sunflower County.[17]
On March 8, 2024, the Mississippi Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences and eight murder convictions meted out in Godbolt's case.[18]
