One of the teenagers involved in a mass shooting at the 2022 Mudbug Festival will spend decades behind bars.
17-year-old Calvin Berry pled guilty on Tuesday to manslaughter, drive-by shooting, and seven counts of aggravated assault for his role in the incident after previously pleading not guilty in January.
A judge sentenced Berry to serve the maximum of 20 years in prison for manslaughter as well as 10 years for each count of aggravated assault. However, 10 years of each sentence for aggravated assault were suspended by the judge.
Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens told Jackson Jambalaya that Berry was given a manslaughter charge because a weapon was not found on the teen at the time of his arrest and that the odds of him being convicted of felony murder were slim.
On April 30, 2022, police responded to the state fairgrounds in Jackson after gunshots were heard during Blue Öyster Cult’s set, leading to swarms of people rushing into the Mississippi Coliseum.
In total, the incident resulted in five injuries and the death of the third suspect, 16-year-old Carmello Brumfield, who was killed by an off-duty Edwards police officer. Authorities recovered several firearms from the scene, including one pistol, two rifles, and numerous shell casings.
The remainder of the festival, which was set to feature a performance by two-time GRAMMY-winning artist Bobby Rush, was canceled for the weekend.
In addition to Berry’s manslaughter sentence, he was also ordered to serve 20 years behind bars for two counts of armed robbery stemming from crimes he committed in 2020 at age 13 and an additional 20 years for armed robbery following an August 2021 indictment.
The sentences will run concurrently with one another.
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson, who oversees activities at the fairgrounds, issued the following statement to SuperTalk Mississippi News following Berry’s sentencing:
“It is unclear from the sentencing how long this offender will remain behind bars. This was clearly a violent crime against the peace and safety of the State of Mississippi. Crimes of violence such as this should be met with swift, certain, and severe penalties. That is why I supported and continue to support the Legislature’s passage of HB #1020. Violent criminals should be guaranteed to spend a long, long time in prison.”
The other Mudbug Fest shooting suspect, 17-year-old Leedrick Trim, was indicted by a grand jury on the same charges as Berry for his role in the gunfire. The case is pending in the Hinds County Circuit Court.
