Judge Terrett sentences Bernard Brown to life plus 10 years in 2024 Vicksburg murder

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) —

A Warren County jury found Bernard Brown guilty Tuesday of the 2024 murder of Shandrick Montgomery, and Judge Toni Terrett immediately sentenced him to life in prison plus 10 years.

Terrett imposed the sentence after the jury deliberated for about two hours before convicting Brown of murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

The trial lasted two days in Warren County Circuit Court. Assistant District Attorney Michael Warren prosecuted the case with assistance from Branan Southerland. Brown was represented by defense attorney Eugene Perrier.

Testimony showed Brown fatally shot Montgomery on Locust Street. Jurors were shown surveillance video of the shooting multiple times during the trial. Although the footage did not clearly identify Brown, investigators testified that they traced the crime to him after the vehicle seen at the scene was later located by former Vicksburg Deputy Police Chief Troy Kimble, who made an initial traffic stop involving the vehicle.

Kimble testified that a 77-year-old woman was inside the vehicle at the time of the stop. She told officers Brown had previously used her vehicle and worked as her handyman.

During the trial, Warren questioned the nature of Brown’s relationship with the woman, suggesting it extended beyond a working relationship.

The woman, now 79, also testified that she allowed Brown to use her truck. She said a firearm that had been inside the truck was confiscated by the Jackson Police Department after Brown was involved in a traffic crash.

Warren argued that Brown fabricated the story he told the woman about the firearm in an effort to conceal Montgomery’s killing. Testimony established that Montgomery died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The prosecution also presented testimony from several law enforcement officers, including Glentrice Johnson, Troy Kimble, Nick Carson and Curtis Judge.

Following sentencing, Brown was transported to the Warren County Jail. He will later be transferred to the Mississippi Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.