BREAKING>> Statement From Ole Miss on Slain Student

HottyToddy.com received the following statement from the University of Mississippi concerning slain Ole Miss student Zacharias McClendon:

“The University family is shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Zach McClendon. We feel pain and loss any time one of our students is taken from us. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and we, as a University family, will do all that we can to support them.”

 HottyToddy.com received the following press release from the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department:

On Dec. 18 at 3:09 a.m., deputies responded to 20B County Road 140 in Lafayette County to a welfare concern. While there, deputies found the body of 25-year-old Zacharias Herculese McClendon of Gulfport, Miss.

The Sheriff’s Department believes foul play was involved. The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department is not releasing details at this time. The Sheriff’s department is working in conjunction with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, the Oxford Police Department and the public. The chief investigator on the case is Alan Wilburn.

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department is asking if anyone has information to please contact them at 662-234-8789 or the Lafayette County Crime Stoppers at 662-234-8477.

This is the scene of a homicide on Levee Road off of College Hill Road.

Previous report from HottyToddy.com:

HottyToddy.com has confirmed with various sources that a homicide took place around 3 a.m. Dec. 18 in a duplex on Levee Road off of College Hill Road.

Web Site reporters drove to the crime scene, which is marked by yellow tape blocking off a driveway in front of the duplex.

The housing units in the area are typically rented by students.

Hottytoddy.com contacted County Sheriff Buddy East  who declined comment on the case , adding “Everybody’s calling.” Sheriff East assured reporters that the chief investigator on the case, Allan Wilburn, would contact the Web Site when more details become available.

According to press observers on the scene, the Sheriff’s Department says no persons of interest are in custody at the present time and no details are available about the victim.

Sheriff’s Department officials on the scene referred all questions to the Sheriff and advised reporters not to cross the yellow crime tape to take pictures.

HottyToddy.com will update this story as details become available.

One report said the victim was shot in the back of the head, but this detail has not been confirmed.

Calls to Ole Miss to determine if the victim is a student are still pending.

Andy Knef is HottyToddy.com editor