Two Teens Indicted for First-Degree Murder

Two Teens Indicted for First-Degree Murder and Other Charges

Jackson police presented information to the Madison County grand jury concerning an August 2012 homicide.

Emanuel Beard, 17, and Jateryance Smith, 18, were indicted for the first-degree murder of Jarvis Vinson, and attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault on Dennis Coman.

Beard and Smith remain in custody at the Madison County Jail with no bond. They are scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Feb. 4 in Circuit Court.

Following a Sept. 19 transfer hearing in Madison County Juvenile Court, the judge ordered that they could be tried as adults. Both were 17 years-old when the crimes were committed.

Around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 11, Jarvis Vinson, 23, was brought by private vehicle to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital with a gunshot wound. He died at 5:25 a.m.

The investigation determined that there was a fight in the early morning hours of Aug. 11. Beard and Smith were not involved in the fight but received a phone call about it shortly afterward. Smith then drove, and Beard was one of two passengers in his car.

They went to the area of Brianfield Drive where people involved in the fight had gone. Jarvis Vinson and Dennis Coman had gotten out of an SUV and were walking toward the apartment building at 25 Brianfield Drive. Beard and an adult both shot at Vinson and Coman as Smith drove by.

Investigators developed the case and arrested Beard and Smith on Aug. 20.

Police recovered a semi-automatic handgun from Beard's home.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit at 731-425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at 731-424-8477 (TIPS).