JACKSON, Miss.—On the heels of a series of shootings, the Jackson Police Department is increasing its presence at the capital city’s gas stations and convenience stores, JPD Chief Joseph Wade says.
“You will see a strong law enforcement presence around these businesses,” Wade said during Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba’s Aug. 5 press conference at City Hall. “We’ve identified at least four stores per precinct that have a propensity of violence around them—gun violence in particular.”
Wade said the initiative, “Operation Gas Up and Guns Down,” will target loitering, panhandling and trespassing as well as drug and gang activity.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba said that in addition to the increased police patrols, he and law enforcement leaders have talked with several gas station owners about the possibility of the City of Jackson declaring their businesses to be public nuisances.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 320px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 90px;}} On July 4, 2024, 60-year-old security guard Roy Love died after he was shot during an attempted robbery at the M&M Food Express convenience store on Cooper Road in Jackson, Miss. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button” src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=780%2C519&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-46041″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MM-Express-on-Cooper-Road_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad-1024×682.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” data-recalc-dims=”1″>On July 4, 2024, 60-year-old security guard Roy Love died after he was shot during an attempted robbery at the M&M Food Express convenience store on Cooper Road in Jackson, Miss. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad
The news came a week after The Jackson City Council debated a resolution calling for a no-confidence vote in City Attorney Drew Martin. Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes proposed the resolution, arguing that Martin—who took over the position after former city attorney Catoria Martin resigned from the role in January—had not done enough in his tenure to pursue legal statutes to help increase safety at gas stations and convenience stores in the capital city.
The council rejected the resolution against Martin in a 4-2 vote during the regular council meeting at Jackson
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