Griffin Receives Suspended Sentence in Death of Shirray Harris

VICKSBURG, Miss. – The suspect in the death of Shirray Harris has pleaded guilty on Monday. Byron Griffin stood in front of Judge James Chaney and accepted a plea deal where he received a 20-year suspended sentence on a downgraded Heat of Passion Manslaughter charge.

Back in March 2024, Griffin was on trial for First Degree Murder of Harris. Griffin was accused of shooting and killing Harris in 2023 after a dispute at Circle K. The case ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict in the death of Harris after hours of deliberation.

During the original trial, Prosecutors pointed out that Harris was attempting to be a peacemaker between Griffin and another man, John Dolley. An argument and fight then broke out between Harris and Griffin. The scuffle resulted in Byron taking Shirray’s gun just before shooting and killing him. The defense claimed that Griffin acted in self-defense. They claimed that he only fired two shots because Harris still had a hold on him after the first shot.

Original Story from trial:

The Shirray Harris murder case ended in a mistrial on Wednesday night. Jurors deliberated for five hours to attempt to decide if Byron Griffin was guilty of the 2023 murder of Harris.

The three-day trial consisted of Prosecutors Michael Warren and Branan Southerland pointing out that Griffin shot and killed Harris after a dispute at Circle K.

Members of the Vicksburg Police Department testified including, Eddie Colbert, Curtis Judge, and Robert Arnold. Captain Judge testified that Griffin argued with a man named John Dolley at the store. A short while later Harris got involved, and the two exchanged words.

According to Captain Judge, Harris took off his jewelry and Griffin took off his shirt. Testimonies from witnesses, including an off-duty Claiborne County Sheriff’s Deputy, indicated that Griffin chased Harris back to his car with an axe handle.

Attempting to be a peacemaker

Video surveillance from the store was played in court that showed Harris and Griffin arguing near Shirray’s vehicle before he hit Griffin over the head with a pistol. The two men then wrestled to the ground where Griffin was able to take the gun from Harris before firing two shots into Shirray.

The state argued that Harris was calmly inside the store where he tipped the cashier but Griffin was acting aggressively when prosecutors pointed out that he said “Go ahead with that tough s*~t.” Witnesses also stated that Harris was attempting to be a peacemaker between Dolley and Griffin before things escalated.

Warren and Southerland pointed out that Shirray could’ve shot Harris in self-defense for chasing him with an axe handle.

Griffin was represented by Eugene Perrier and they gave a different version of the story.

“I know where you live”

On the witness stand, Byron mentioned that John Dolley scared him in the store by sneaking behind him before demanding that he give him a ride home. Once outside, Griffin stated that Dolley was being disrespectful to a customer’s wife and he had to correct him. From that point on Byron said that is when Harris got involved and eventually made threats toward him.

“I know where you live and you’ll be seeing me before the end of the night,” Griffin stated that those were Harris’ words.

Byron continued to state that he never chased Harris to his car and that Harris hit him over the head with the gun which made the two get into a physical altercation. Harris was seen on top of Griffin before Griffin was able to take the gun. Harris then grabbed Griffin in an attempt to pick him up before Griffin fired one shot. Griffin stated that Harris still had a hold of him which made him fire the second shot that killed Harris.

Before the shots were fired, Griffin stated that Dolley told him “You’re going to get killed over a bitch you don’t even know.”

“Call an Ambulance”

Griffin can be heard on video saying call the ambulance. While this was going on, Dolley took off running. Dolley, who is serving seven years in prison for another crime also testified for the state.

Further arguments consisted of the state showing that Griffin got in his car and decided to get back out which could’ve avoided the whole thing. Pierre and Griffin both stuck to the story that Shirray asked him to get out of the car where they were going to possibly shake hands before things got heated once more.

Once closing arguments were done, the jury was instructed to deliberate. After five hours they couldn’t decide if it was murder, manslaughter, or self-defense.

Judge James Chaney therefore asked Pierre to prepare a mistrial order.

Griffin remains free on bail and the state can request for a retrial.