Greeenville, Mississippi

From the Greeenville Delta Democrat Times of February 17, 2007

Homicide ruled self-defense; woman freed

A Greenville woman walked out of the Greenville City Jail a free woman Friday afternoon after a murder charge against her was dismissed.

Municipal Court Judge Michael Prewitt dismissed the domestic homicide charge against Quintina Scott Brown during her arraignment hearing in city court.

Brown had been incarcerated since Thursday after an altercation at a Valentine's Day wedding reception led to Brown shooting her husband and being charged in the city's first homicide of the year.

Jermaine Brown, 23, was shot and killed early Thursday, and Quintina Scott Brown, 23, of Greenville was charged by the Greenville Police Department with one count of domestic homicide.

Police Lt. Andrew Kaho said the Police Department received a call about 1:30 a.m. Thursday concerning a shot person at 1253 Dublin St.

“Once officers arrived on the scene, Quintina Scott Brown told police that she had just shot her husband,” Kaho said. “Mrs. Brown said the two of them had been in an altercation earlier that day at a relative's wedding reception. It continued throughout the night.

“After they had left the reception and were at the house, Mrs. Brown said her husband assaulted her in the face,” Kaho said referring to police reports. “She told him to get his clothes and leave the residence.”

The woman said her husband refused to leave the house.

“She said he refused to leave the house and at that time, they began to wrestle with each other,” Kaho said. “She said she got loose and went to the closet and got a handgun. She said she told him again to get his things and leave the house, and he refused to leave.

“At that time, she said, the man was very upset and began to approach her,” Kaho added. “At that time, she raised the weapon and shot one time.”

Kaho said Jermaine Brown was shot in the left side of the forehead.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Quintina Brown was taken into custody by police at the scene.

Police officers retrieved a .380-caliber handgun from the residence, which is believed to be the weapon.

Kaho said the couple had three children: a 1-year-old boy and two 3-year-old girls. The police lieutenant said the children were at the house at the time of the incident, but they were not injured.

Quintina Brown reportedly “had bruises under her neck,” Kaho said. “Judge Prewitt ruled that the shooting appeared to be self-defense and dismissed the charges.”

Kaho said Friday that the case is still being investigated by the Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division.

“We are still investigating the incident, and the file will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review,” Kaho said. “The D.A. will determine whether to submit the case to the next grand jury.”