Oktibbeha County Jury Finds Man Guilty in Shooting Death of 9 Year Old

A jury in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court declared a guilty verdict for Christopher Perkins. Perkins is guilty of first degree murder in the 2022 shooting death of Lasang Kemp, age nine. Perkins is also being convicted on two counts of aggravated assault.

Perkins is sentenced to life in prison for the murder charge, and also received sentences of twenty years for each aggravated assault charge. The sentences will run concurrently.

The sentence is related to the shooting that took place on January 5, 2022. Lasang Kamp was fatally shot while sitting in a vehicle on Santa Anita Drive. His death sent shock waves through the Oktibbeha County community.

A news conference was held Friday by District Attorney Scott Colom and Police Chief Mark Ballard to discuss the verdict and details of the case.