Darden Held Until a Bond Hearing

VICKSBURG, Miss – Accused “Smoke Break” shooter Derrius Darden, 21, was ordered held until a bond hearing can be set.

Judge James Jefferson presided over the hearing in Justice Court this morning. Liam Walker with the District Attorney’s Office represented the people at the hearing. Walker outlined the current and previous charges against Darden. Those include accusations of shooting into an occupied vehicle on August 22 and a prior shooting incident in 2022. Additionally, new charges include being the shooter at the Smoke Break incident on November 8.

Darden was arrested yesterday in a mobile home on Smallwood, off Highway 80, just east of Vicksburg. A search warrant was procured, and the search resulted in the discovery of MDMA, commonly called Ecstasy. Also, a handgun that was modified with a “Glock Switch,” a device that converts the weapon to fully automatic, was found.

Darden will be charged with the shooting, possession of a controlled substance, and having a modified weapon.

Walker petitioned the judge not to set a bond because of the danger to the community. Judge Jefferson asked Darden if he could secure counsel or if he needed the county to provide one. Darden requested the county provide counsel. Judge Jefferson then ordered Darden held until a bond hearing, with counsel, could be set.

The Justice Court cannot order someone held without bond by state law. Jefferson carefully worded his statement to clarify that Darden was being held until a bond hearing could be set.

Justice Court and Municipal Court have different statutes

In Mississippi, the Justice and Municipal Courts are not authorized to order someone held without bond. Under state law, only County and Circuit Courts can do that. The Municipal and Justice Courts are not ‘courts of record’ where a court reporter documents every word.

Municipal and Justice Courts can set high bonds with limits established by state law.