A Troy man is dead and two others are in custody after an attempted armed robbery in Springhill early Thursday morning. Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said Jabonte King, 21, died after being shot during a struggle over a handgun.

“We got a call about 2:30 a.m. about an attempted armed robbery on County Road 3061 in Springhill,” Thomas said. “The resident told us he heard a knock on his door and when he opened the door, three male subjects rushed inside his residence.”

One of the men was armed with a handgun. As the homeowner fought back, the weapon was discharged during the struggle, Thomas said. “The three suspects fled the residence…and two of the suspects were picked up and taken away. We found the third suspect, King, about 200 yards from the homeowner’s residence.”

Thomas said King had been shot at least once in the torso and an autopsy is being performed.

The 36-year-old homeowner and his one-year-old child were the only ones in the apartment at the time of the attempted armed robbery.

Thomas said the homeowner knew at least one of the suspects who had identified himself after knocking on the door. “During the investigation, we developed leads on the other two suspects and were able to pick both of them up” Thomas said. “We also secured a confession that they were there to commit armed robbery.”

 

Anthony Jerome Starks, 23, and Davaris Mendenhall, 21, were arrested Thursday. Starks was charged with armed robbery first degree and being held on a $250,000 bond. Mendenhall was charged with armed robbery first degree but was being held without bond because “he had pending charges of robbery in Pike County and murder in Dallas County,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the investigation is continuing and additional arrests are possible. “We do anticipate murder charges being filed against Starks and Mendenhall,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the Pike County’s Sherriff’s office was assisted by the District Attorney’s office, the Troy Police Department and the Pike County Coroner. The case remains under investigation.