On September 23, 2020, 21-year-old Michael Taborris Givens was found fatally shot in the Brazil Homes area of Greenwood, Mississippi. Givens, a Greenwood resident, had been visiting a friend when the shooting occurred. The Leflore County Sheriff’s Department opened an investigation and interviewed multiple people to establish what happened and identify suspects.

Detectives’ inquiries led to a friend, Vonta Franklin, who confessed to shooting Givens. Franklin was later indicted by a Leflore County Grand Jury on first-degree murder. On August 1, 2023, Franklin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced by Senior Circuit Judge Ashley Hines to 35 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with 30 years to be served in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision; he is not eligible for early release or parole.

If anyone knew Michael or has information about his last hours in Greenwood, please share what you remember.