Two charged in beating death of Jackson man
DOWNTOWN JACKSON — Jackson police have arrested and charged two men in the June 8 beating death of Rico Swift and assault on Swift’s girlfriend on First Street, and the investigation is ongoing to identify other men involved. Christopher Minor and Frederick Booth, both 20 and of Jackson, are in custody at the Madison County Jail and will be arraigned via video link at 8 a.m. Friday in Jackson City Court. The formal charges that they’re facing will be announced at their arraignment. On June 8 around 9:35 p.m., officers were called to an apartment building at 500 First St. Swift, 31, was found unresponsive inside his apartment. He was transported by ambulance to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and pronounced dead. The ongoing investigation thus far has shown that Swift and his girlfriend were inside his apartment when there was a knock at the door. Two men were allowed inside, and approximately three to four other men followed behind them. Once inside the apartment, the suspects beat Swift and the woman while making demands. Swift died from his injuries, and the woman was knocked unconscious. The suspects then took property and left. Investigators developed information that Swift sold illegal drugs from his apartment, and he was likely targeted for money, drugs or both. Investigators learned that Minor and Booth were two of the men responsible. On Tuesday morning, police arrested both men together inside an apartment at Royal Arms, 1580 North Royal St. After further developments, investigators charged Minor and Booth Thursday afternoon. Investigators are pursuing leads to identify the other people involved who were all described as black men in their 20s. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department’s Major Crimes Bureau at 731-425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at 731-424-8477 (TIPS). Submit a cyber tip at jmcrimestoppers.org and click on “web tips”.
