Event center murder suspect appears in court and pleads not guilty

JACKSON, Tenn. — A man allegedly responsible for shooting nine people and killing a woman at a north Jackson event center early Sunday morning was arraigned in court Friday.

Matthew Berry is charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder.

Berry appeared virtually in court. His attorney, Michael Burton, spoke on his behalf.

Berry pleaded not guilty to the charge. The state is requesting that Berry be held without bail.

“Judge, due to the nature of the charge and the facts alleged in the warrant, the state requests that he be held specifically on the murder charge,” prosecutors said.

“He is being held without bond. No bail, yes,” Judge Blake Anderson said.

According to an arrest warrant, Jackson police responded to 23-10 North Highland Avenue around 1 a.m. Oct. 20 for a shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered nine gunshot victims.

Two victims were flown to a hospital in Memphis. Lar'Curia Roberson was shot in the stomach and forearm and later died as a result of her injuries.

One of the victims was shot twice in the back and was later paralyzed from the shooting. Officers examined the scene and recovered eight spent 9-millimeter shell casings and one live .38 caliber cartridge.

Preliminary forensic findings indicate that all eight spent shell casings collected were fired from the same firearm. Berry was positively identified in a six-man lineup as the person who opened fire in the crowd at the event center.

The shooting occurred inside the venue during what JPD said was a large party.

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