Grand jury will hear Martin triple shooting suspect’s case
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DRESDEN, Tenn. — New details emerged Tuesday as a suspected killer goes before a judge in Weakley County. Marcus Easley is charged with second-degree murder in a January shooting in Martin. Easley was also charged with three counts of aggravated assault after police say he shot three people Jan. 5, killing one. Until Tuesday, investigators had not released the motive of the shooting. “He did gamble with his birthday money, and he did lose that money,” Martin Police Investigator Guy Pryor said. Pryor testified in Tuesday’s preliminary hearing about the night Easley reportedly gunned down three people during his birthday party at a Martin home. The shooting killed Corey Williams of Dresden and seriously injured two others. “He also felt like Mr. Williams and Mr. Dickson were in it together and cheated him out of his money and then proceeded to belittle him,” Pryor said. Pryor said after Easley was caught and charged he admitted to shooting the three victims because he thought the two men cheated him out of money. “And that’s when he said that that’s what pushed him over the edge, in his own words,” Pryor said. Family and friends of the three victims sat in the courtroom during the testimony. “It was difficult, but at this time we leave it in the hands of law enforcement and trusting that justice will be served,” Mark Davis said. Davis is Corey Williams’ cousin. “It’s difficult on our family to deal with. We know that God’s going to pull us through this, and like I say we know that justice will be served.” Investigators testified Easley admitted to having financial and personal problems at the time of the shooting. “He made the statement that his mind was gone. In fact, he said that several times,” Pryor said. Officials said the second male victim is still in critical condition at Vanderbilt and the female victim is recovering at a Memphis hospital. After testimony, the judge ruled there is enough evidence to move the case forward to a grand jury set to meet in May. Easley is jailed in lieu of a $1 million bond.
