Teenagers Charged with Capital Murder in Mississippi Convenience Store Shooting

Three teenagers, two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old, were arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of 60-year-old Roy Love, a security guard at an M&M Food Express in Jackson, Mississippi, on Monday morning.

Jackson, Mississippi - Three teenagers, two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old, have been charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of 60-year-old Roy Love, a security guard at an M&M Food Express in Jackson, Mississippi, on Monday morning.

Roy Love was working security at the M&M Food Express at 516 Cooper Road in Jackson, Mississippi, when he was shot and killed in the early hours of the morning, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said at a news conference.

Teenagers Charged with Capital Murder in Mississippi Convenience Store Shooting

At about 1:30 a.m., Love approached the three teenagers and asked them to leave, according to Wade. "They subsequently attacked him. They took his weapon, and they fired upon him with their weapon," Wade said.

The chief said the motive of the teenagers, who already had a gun, was to steal Love's firearm. "And they succeeded," Wade said.

Teenagers Charged with Capital Murder in Mississippi Convenience Store Shooting

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said video footage of the incident between Roy Love, 60, and the three teens showed that Love never drew his gun. (Jackson Police Department/Facebook)

Wade said video footage of the incident showed that Love never drew his gun.

Teenagers Charged with Capital Murder in Mississippi Convenience Store Shooting

After the shooting, two of the teenagers ran away on foot and the other one fled on a bicycle, Wade said. Police arrested the three suspects within hours of the encounter.

The teenagers were charged with capital murder, which is punishable by death or life in prison without the possibility of parole in Mississippi.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

* Roy Love was a retired police officer who had worked as a security guard at the M&M Food Express for several years.

* The three teenagers charged with capital murder are all from Jackson, Mississippi.

* The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, but police believe robbery was the primary motive.

* The teenagers are being held without bond at the Hinds County Juvenile Detention Center.

* A preliminary hearing for the teenagers is scheduled for July 12, 2023.