Published: November 03, 2009 10:56 am      

Meridian records 3rd and 4th slayings of 2009

Meridian authorities are investigation the city’s third and fourth homicides of the year after two shooting deaths since Friday.

It is not clear if the killings are related.

Police Capt. James Sharpe said 28-year-od Stanley Mason was found shot to death outside a housing complex Saturday.

On Friday, police discovered the body of 29-year-old Jerome Hearn, who had died of apparent gunshot wounds in his car, parked at a vacant house.

The bodies of both homicide victims will be sent to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for autopsy, according to the Meridian Star newspaper.