On August 21, 2021, at approximately 2:05 am, the Oxford Police Department responded to the Links Apartments for a report of a male who had been shot. A suspect vehicle description was given out and was subsequently stopped by the Batesville Police Department and the Panola County Sheriff’s Department. Two person’s of interest were taken into custody and transported back to Oxford.
The victim was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi where they were able to stabilize him and get transported to the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Around 6:00 am the victim was pronounced deceased from his injuries.
Today, August 22, 2021, Keith Lamont Harmon Jr., 19 of Batesville, Mississippi has been formally charged with First Degree Murder in the death of John Adams, 24 of Oxford. Harmon was taken in front of a Lafayette County Justice Court Judge today and his bond was set at $1,000,000.
Harmon was taken into custody in the early morning hours on Saturday, August 21 after officers were dispatched to the Links apartment complex after witnesses heard gunshots. Witnesses in the area were able to provide law enforcement with a vehicle description. In a matter of minutes after the initial call law enforcement officers with the Panola County Sheriff’s Office and Batesville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. At that time, Harmon was taken into custody.
“Over the past few weeks our local law enforcement officers have been meeting with other local, state and federal agencies to work to combat the growing violence in our areas. Oxford is a safe community and we are committed to keeping it that way. If you come to Oxford to harm and victimize our community rest assured that we will pour every resource and every ounce of our energy we have to finding you and prosecuting you to the fullest extent of the law,” said Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen.
“This is a tragic event that cut a young promising life short and altered a family forever. John had just graduated in May from the University of Mississippi with a degree in mechanical engineering. To the Adam’s family, our hearts and prayers are with you all,” said Chief McCutchen.
