‘Destroyed by his loss.’ Family wants Coast man released from jail for son’s funeral
Elizabeth “MiMi” English has been heartbroken and unable to think straight since her grandson, 18-year-old Marcello ‘Boolee’ English, died in an April 27 shooting in the St. Martin community.
But her grief is compounded now because her grandson’s father, Mervin “Slimm” English, is not able to get out of the Harrison County jail on compassionate grounds to attend his son’s funeral Monday.
The family asked for Mervin English’s release on compassionate grounds to attend the funeral with an ankle monitor on to track his whereabouts.
Mervin English is a convicted felon who is jail in Harrison County awaiting trial following his indictment on multiple drug-trafficking charges and a weapon charge for felon in possession of a firearms, records show.
The family has started a petition that’s garnered over 1,700 signatures asking to get him out of jail until his trial.
Mervin English suffers from chronic sinusitis and high blood pressure and being in jail makes him more susceptible to catching the novel coronavirus, the family said.
Over 1,700 people signed the petition, but the courts have not granted the request.
The shooting
Marcello English was already dead when his body was found around 1:30 a.m. in the middle of the intersection of Amhurst and Hamilton drives in west Jackson County.
Another teen, Derrick Craft, 18, was with English and also was shot and taken to an Alabama hospital for treatment.
Since then, Jackson County sheriff’s investigators have arrested four teens in the shooting that authorities say happened during some type of altercation.
None of those arrested are facing a murder charge, something English’s family questions since he was killed in the encounter.
Those arrested include Christian Terrin Kennedy, 19, and Caden Kennedy Walker, 16, who were each booked on a charge of aggravated assault in the fatal shooting. Kennedy faces an additional charge of tampering with evidence.
Two others, a 17-year-old from Biloxi and a 15-year-old from Ocean Springs, were each arrested on a charge of accessory after the fact.
English doesn’t understand why no one is facing a murder charge in her grandson’s death.
According to Sheriff Mike Ezell, the two shooting victims met with Kennedy and Walker and it appears the shooting occurred during a fight.
The sheriff’s office consulted with District Attorney Angel Meyers McIlrath’s office after the shooting, and Sheriff Mike Ezell said the charges against Kennedy and Walker will be presented to a grand jury to determine if they will be upgraded to murder.
The shooting is the second reported this month after Jackson County deputies investigated a gang-related shooting, also in the St. Martin community.
A shining star
Meanwhile, the English family continues to grieve.
Since his death, tributes to Marcello English have appeared all over social media.
Others have gathered together in fellowship to remember the teen his grandmother said “was a prankster, high energy, full of life person who brought our family joy from the day he was born.”
“Marcello was infectious,” she said. “Once you met him, you were hooked on his bright smile, dazzling dimples, (and) wild and quirky ways. Boolee as I called him from a baby was a wonderful spirit and we are all destroyed by his loss.”
His grandmother said she can’t bear to focus on how he died.
“That image will forever be embedded in my mind,” she said. “In order to survive each day, I have tried to focus on how he lived, loved life, loved his family, his classmates, his teachers, friends, football, basketball, music, cars and just having fun.”
Once Marcello English is laid to rest Monday, his grandmother said the family’s quest will be to seek justice for him.
“I do not understand why those boys are not charged with murder,” his grandmother said. “All of them, including my grandson, were out after curfew and I don’t know what happened or why.
“All I know is my precious most-cherished Boolee is lying in a funeral home.”
This story was originally published May 10, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
