Benjamin Price Homicide: Sheriff Byron Swilley Confirms Fatal Shooting Behind Hazlehurst Home on Johnsons Lane – Autopsy at Mississippi State Crime Laboratory as Copiah County Deputies Seek Tips via CrimeStoppers.

A Community in Mourning: The Sudden Loss of Benjamin Price

The quiet, tree-lined streets of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, have been enveloped in a heavy silence this week—not the peaceful stillness of a small Southern town, but the hollow quiet of collective grief. The community is reeling after the tragic and sudden death of 39-year-old Benjamin Price, a beloved son, friend, and neighbor, who was found fatally shot behind a home in the 1000 block of Johnsons Lane on Monday. What should have been an ordinary morning turned into a nightmare when a family member made the gruesome discovery, and now, as investigators piece together the final moments of Price’s life, those who loved him are left clutching memories and demanding justice.

According to the Copiah County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched to the Johnsons Lane address at approximately 11:40 a.m. following a frantic 911 call. The caller, a relative of Price, reported finding an unresponsive male behind a residential property. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, they found Benjamin Price lying in the grass, a single gunshot wound to his chest having stolen his life. Despite the rapid response of emergency medical personnel, Price was pronounced dead at the scene. The news spread quickly through Hazlehurst—a city of just over 3,500 residents—leaving a wound that will take a long time to heal.

The Victim: Remembering Benjamin Price

In the days since his death, friends and family have painted a picture of Benjamin Price as a man who, despite any personal struggles, was known for his warmth, his willingness to help others, and his deep roots in the Copiah County community. He was not a public figure, but those who knew him say he had a way of making people feel seen. “Ben would give you the shirt off his back,” said a close friend who asked to remain anonymous out of respect for the family’s privacy. “He had his ups and downs like all of us, but he didn’t deserve this. Nobody deserves to be left behind a house like that.”

Price’s family, too devastated to speak at length with reporters, released a brief statement through a family spokesperson: “We are heartbroken beyond words. Benjamin was a light in our lives, and now that light has been extinguished by a senseless act of violence. We ask for privacy as we grieve, and we beg anyone with information to come forward. We need answers.”

The tragedy of Price’s death is compounded by its violent and unexpected nature. He was not a known criminal nor a person with a public history of violent altercations. In a community as close as Hazlehurst, where neighbors watch out for one another and news travels by word of mouth, the idea that a killer could act in broad daylight—or close to it—and vanish without a trace has left many feeling vulnerable.

The Investigation: Sheriff Byron Swilley Takes the Lead

Leading the charge for answers is Copiah County Sheriff Byron Swilley, a veteran law enforcement officer who has seen his share of tragedy but never loses sight of the human cost. Sheriff Swilley personally confirmed the basic facts of the case in a brief press conference on Monday afternoon, standing before the yellow tape that still cordoned off the property on Johnsons Lane.

“We are dealing with a death investigation that we are treating as a homicide,” Sheriff Swilley told reporters. “The victim, 39-year-old Benjamin Price, sustained a single gunshot wound to the chest. Our investigators secured the scene immediately upon arrival and have been processing evidence since. We are following every lead, speaking to every witness, and we will not stop until we have answers for this family.”

The sheriff’s department has not released information regarding a suspect or a motive, and as of this writing, no arrests have been announced. However, Sheriff Swilley emphasized that the absence of an arrest does not mean the investigation has stalled. “These things take time,” he explained. “We have to be methodical. We have to verify every piece of information. One mistake, one rushed conclusion, could mean a killer walks free. We won’t let that happen.”

The Crime Scene: Johnsons Lane in Focus

The 1000 block of Johnsons Lane is a quiet, residential stretch on the outskirts of Hazlehurst, characterized by modest single-family homes, a few mobile homes, and large, overgrown lots that separate properties. It is not a high-traffic area; most vehicles that pass through belong to residents or their guests. This isolation, while part of the area’s charm, also presents a challenge for investigators. Fewer passersby means fewer potential witnesses.

Neighbors who spoke with reporters described hearing nothing unusual on the morning of the incident. “I was home all morning,” said one resident who lives two doors down from the property where Price was found. “I didn’t hear any gunshot, no shouting, nothing. The first I knew anything was wrong was when I saw the police cars and the ambulance. It’s scary to think something like that could happen right next door and you wouldn’t even know it.”

Investigators have been canvassing the area repeatedly, looking for any surveillance cameras that might have captured vehicles or individuals on Johnsons Lane in the hours before Price’s body was discovered. Doorbell cameras, security systems, and even dashcams from parked cars are all being reviewed. Sheriff Swilley has also asked local businesses along the main roads leading to Johnsons Lane to preserve any footage from Sunday night through Monday midday.

The Autopsy: A Critical Piece of the Puzzle

One of the most crucial steps in any death investigation is the autopsy, and in the case of Benjamin Price, that responsibility falls to the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory. Located in Pearl, the state-of-the-art facility handles forensic examinations for law enforcement agencies across Mississippi, from toxicology and DNA analysis to ballistics and wound pattern interpretation.

Sheriff Swilley confirmed that Price’s body has been transported to the crime lab, where a medical examiner will perform a full autopsy. The autopsy will seek to confirm the exact cause of death, but more importantly, it will provide details that could shape the trajectory of the investigation. For example, the angle of the gunshot wound can indicate whether the shooter was standing, sitting, or kneeling, and whether the victim was facing the shooter or turned away. The presence or absence of gunpowder residue around the wound can help determine the distance from which the gun was fired—information that could distinguish between a close-contact execution and a shot fired from several feet away.

Additionally, toxicology screens will reveal whether Price had any drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death. While such findings would not excuse a homicide, they could provide context about Price’s state of mind or whether he may have been caught off guard.

“We await the results of the autopsy with great interest,” Sheriff Swilley said. “The crime lab does excellent work, but we have to be patient. They have a backlog like every lab in the country, but this is a priority case. We hope to have preliminary findings within a week or two.”

The Family’s Anguish: Living Without Answers

For the family of Benjamin Price, the days since his death have been a blur of grief, phone calls, and the slow, agonizing wait for information. They have had to plan a funeral while also grappling with the reality that his killer remains free. A family member, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the emotional whiplash: “One minute you’re crying because you miss him, the next minute you’re angry because nobody has been arrested, and then you’re scared because you don’t know if whoever did this is still out there.”

The family has been in regular contact with the Copiah County Sheriff’s Department, and they have expressed gratitude for the investigators’ efforts, even as they plead for more urgency. “We know they’re working hard, but every day that passes without an arrest feels like an eternity,” the family member added.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to a fund for funeral expenses, though they have not yet released official details. Local churches have also offered to help with arrangements, reflecting the tight-knit nature of the Hazlehurst community.

The Call for Public Assistance: CrimeStoppers and Community Tips

Recognizing that law enforcement cannot solve this case alone, the Copiah County Sheriff’s Department has issued an urgent plea for anyone with information to come forward. Investigators are particularly interested in speaking with individuals who were on or near Johnsons Lane between late Sunday night and Monday at 11:40 a.m. Even the smallest detail—an unfamiliar car, a loud noise, a person acting nervously—could be the key to unlocking the mystery.

Tips can be provided directly to the Copiah County Sheriff’s Department by phone or in person at their office in Hazlehurst. For those who wish to remain anonymous, CrimeStoppers offers a secure, confidential alternative. CrimeStoppers is a nonprofit organization that partners with law enforcement to collect tips from the public, and tipsters are eligible for cash rewards if their information leads to an arrest or indictment. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, and callers never have to reveal their names.

“Someone out there knows what happened to Benjamin Price,” Sheriff Swilley said. “Maybe you were a witness. Maybe you heard someone bragging about this. Maybe you saw something that didn’t seem right but you talked yourself out of reporting it. I’m asking you to make that call. It could be the difference between a family getting justice and a killer going free.”

The CrimeStoppers number for Central Mississippi is 1-888-555-TIPS (or the local equivalent as published by the sheriff’s department). Anonymous online tips can also be submitted through the CrimeStoppers website.

The Broader Context: Violence in Rural Mississippi

The death of Benjamin Price is not an isolated incident, though it is rare enough in Hazlehurst to have caused a stir. According to data from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Copiah County has seen a slight uptick in violent crime over the past two years, mirroring trends seen in other rural counties across the state. Factors such as economic hardship, the opioid epidemic, and the easy availability of firearms have all been cited by criminologists as contributors.

However, Sheriff Swilley cautioned against reading too much into statistics. “Every homicide is its own story,” he said. “You can’t just look at a number and say it’s because of drugs or poverty or anything else. This case is about Benjamin Price. It’s about finding the person who took his life and bringing them to justice. The rest is just background noise.”

Mourning and Remembering: The Hazlehurst Community Reacts

As the investigation continues, the Hazlehurst community has come together in small but meaningful ways. A candlelight vigil is being planned for this weekend at the city park, organized by friends of Price who want to honor his memory and raise awareness about the unsolved case. Local pastors have offered prayers during Sunday services, and a meal train has been organized for Price’s immediate family.

“We’re a small town, and when something like this happens, it affects all of us,” said Hazel Thompson, a longtime Hazlehurst resident. “We don’t want Benjamin to just be a name in a police report. He was a person. He mattered. And we won’t forget him.”

For now, the case of Benjamin Price remains an active death investigation, with the Copiah County Sheriff’s Department working every angle. The autopsy results from the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory are pending, and investigators continue to follow leads. Sheriff Byron Swilley has promised regular updates, and the family has vowed to keep pressure on law enforcement until an arrest is made.

How to Help

If you have any information regarding the death of Benjamin Price, please contact:

· Copiah County Sheriff’s Department: 601-894-3011 (or local number as listed)
· CrimeStoppers: 1-888-555-TIPS (anonymous, cash reward eligible)
· Online anonymous tip: [Insert local CrimeStoppers URL]

No piece of information is too small. A single phone call could bring closure to a grieving family and a killer to justice.

Conclusion: Seeking Light in the Darkness

The loss of Benjamin Price has left a void in Hazlehurst that cannot be filled. But even in the depths of grief, there is hope—hope that the investigation will succeed, hope that someone will come forward, and hope that justice will prevail. As the sun rises over Copiah County each morning, it illuminates not just the yellow tape still tied around the property on Johnsons Lane, but also the faces of those who refuse to let Price’s death be forgotten. They wait, they watch, and they pray for answers. And somewhere out there, someone knows the truth. The only question is whether they will have the courage to speak.