A $1 million cash bond has been set for a Jayess man accused of shooting and killing another man on Highway 98 East on New Year’s Eve.
Pike County Chief Deputy Steve Rushing said the bond for Bobby Brumfield, 30, was set Monday in Pike County Justice Court.
Brumfield is accused of shooting and killing Kevin J. Lirette, 39, of Fountain Hill, Ark., with a shotgun during an argument that occurred in a crossover in the highway median near Holmesville Grocery.
Brumfield left the scene after the shooting and was arrested later in Walthall County.
The case remains under investigation, and no motive has been determined, Rushing said.
Lirette, authorities said, had a wife in Arkansas and family in Pike County. They were not sure if he had been visiting family prior to the shooting.
According to reports, Brumfield and his wife were separated and were starting divorce proceedings. Pike County Chancery Court records show that the couple filed jointly for divorce on Dec. 30.
Rushing said Brumfiled was allegedly harassing his estranged wife, and Lirette, who was a longtime acquaintance of the woman, apparently wanted to meet with Brumfield to ask him to stop bothering her.
Lirette, who authorities said worked offshore, was on his way home from work and apparently met Brumfield in the middle of the highway to talk with him.
When the men got out of their cars, Brumfield allegedly shot Lirette, hitting him in the head and the upper right chest and shoulder with blasts from what is believed to be a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with small game shot.
Lirette was pronounced dead at the scene by Pike County Coroner Percy Pittman.
