TUNICA COUNTY, Miss. — Cortez Bass, the 18-year-old accused of shooting and killing a teenager in Tunica County, has been found guilty of first-degree murder.
Bass is expected to be sentenced in two weeks at which time he could be given life in prison without parole or life in prison with parole.
According to law enforcement, Cortez shot and killed Donterrius Jackson in front of his home.
On Tuesday, family members filled the courtroom at Tunica Circuit Court for the first day of Bass’ murder trial.
Linda Jackson, Donterrius’ mother, reported claims for months that Bass was allegedly posting death threats to her son online.
However, she claimed law enforcement never followed through.
“So after being bullied and him saying what he was going to do and making all the threats, he made good on them,” Jackson explained.
The victim’s mother said she was told the alleged threats would not be shown in court because it was never proven Bass was the person behind the posts.
The lead investigator in the case took the bench Tuesday morning to comb through every detail about what officers found the day that the 17-year-old boy was shot and killed.
After Jurors returned from lunch, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office presented its findings.
The medical examiner’s presentation included pictures so tough some family members left the courtroom where Jackson waited to take the stand.
“It’s hard as a mother, but I’m going to stay strong because I’m my son’s voice. Because I have to speak for him. He didn’t deserve what happened to him,” Jackson said.
