Canton Men Sentenced for Roles in Murder for Hire Plot that Led to Highland Colony Shootout

District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that three Canton men have been convicted for their part in a murder-for-hire plot that ended in a shootout on Highland Colony Parkway at the Renaissance roundabout. Dondre Blackmon and Corrie Ollie were both convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and each sentenced to serve 20 years in custody—the maximum sentence allowed by law. Corrie Ollie also pled to felon in possession of a firearm and received an additional five years on that charge. Finally, Xavious Johnson pled guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to the maximum of twenty years to serve. 

On November 4, 2021, law enforcement officers were called to the area of Highland Colony and Old Agency Road in reference to what witnesses described as two cars traveling north on Highland Colony shooting at one another. Law enforcement found one of the vehicles involved on the shoulder of I55 southbound. Anterrion Robinson, LaChristopher Smith, and Tyrone Lewis were outside the car between the ditch and a wood line. Lewis had been shot in the arm. Ridgeland Police Department officers rendered life-saving aid to Lewis on scene. 

Through a months-long investigation, officers were able to determine that the shooting had stemmed from a murder-for-hire plot. Local businessman, Dondre Blackmon, had contracted with Corrie Ollie for Ollie to murder Lewis for $20,000. He paid Ollie $5,000 as a down payment on the hit. Ollie and Xavious Johnson used social media to track down Lewis at Walk-On’s restaurant in Ridgeland. Then, when Lewis left with Robinson and Smith, Corey Ollie and Xavious Johnson followed them. While heading towards I55, Ollie drove and Johnson shot into the car driven by Lewis. Lewis returned fire and the two cars exchanged gunfire as they went through the roundabout and merged onto the interstate in Ridgeland. Lewis was the only person struck. 

All parties involved were from Canton and authorities determined that this was the connection between Blackmon and Lewis. Sources indicated that Blackmon was angry with Lewis over a business deal that had gone wrong, and Lewis had refused to pay Blackmon back. 

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “If not for the quick thinking and life-saving measures provided by the officers of Ridgeland Police Department, Tyrone Lewis would have died. This is unacceptable behavior on so many levels. First, people cannot simply pay money to have other humans murdered. This is just as bad as pulling the trigger yourself. Second, it is a wonder and a miracle that no one else was hit, hurt, or killed by the reckless actions of these individuals. Opening fire on a moving car while driving up Highland Colony Parkway and then onto I-55 is so incredibly reckless and dangerous. I hope these sentences send a message to others that we will not tolerate this type of violence in Madison and Rankin counties.”