Man sentenced in deadly Canton shooting

Man sentenced in deadly Canton shooting

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CANTON — A Louisiana man was sentenced to 40 years in prison in connection with a fatal shooting here last June.

The man, Querjajuan Butler, 24, of Metaire, La., pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the June 2022 shooting death of Marquez Lindsey, Madison County District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced on Thursday, April 27. 

Butler was sentenced to serve a maximum of 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department Of Corrections which he will serve without the possibility of parole. 

His co-defendant, Ikela Ephriam, 31, pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder and was sentenced to serve eight years, according to Bramlett.

Lindsey was 24 years old at the time of his death.

“We work with too many parents who are heartbroken over the loss of their children to violent crimes,” Bramlett said. “I hope our communities can work together to stop tragedies like this one.”

On June 9, 2022, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to 111 Whisper Ridge in Canton where a man had been shot multiple times, Bramlett said.  

Lindsey died from his injuries after being transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.  

“Investigators identified the suspect as Butler who had come to Canton from New Orleans,” Bramlett said.  

Butler had recently begun a relationship with Ephraim after the two met in New Orleans. 

However, Bramlett said, Ephriam was also in a relationship with the victim. An altercation between Butler and Lindsey at Ephraim’s residence ultimately led to Butler shooting Lindsey multiple times. Ephriam then drove Butler into Jackson and away from the crime scene.  

Butler pleaded to second-degree murder without a recommendation from the District Attorney’s Office, Bramlett said. 

Circuit Judge Dewey Arthur conducted a sentencing hearing, and after hearing from the victim’s mother, handed down the maximum sentence of 40 years.  

Ephriam pleaded to accessory after the fact for her part in driving the defendant from the crime scene. 

Arthur heard arguments from both the state and defense counsel and sentenced her to eight years in the custody of the MDOC.

“The Madison County Sheriff's Office did an excellent job working this murder case,” Bramlett said. “Our hearts go out to Mr. Lindsey’s family. All this senseless violence must stop.”






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