Family, activists seek meeting with DA over inmate death  (index.html)  (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/family-activists-seek-meeting-with-da-over-inmate-death/?outputType=amp)                               (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon.ico@d=600&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-16x16.png@d=600&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-32x32.png@d=600&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-48x48.png@d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-167x167.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?d=600&mxId=00000000)    (../../../../pf/dist/components/output-types/default.css@d=600&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/dist/components/combinations/default.css@d=600&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/__global/css/style.css@d=600&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/wtva/css/main.css@d=600&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.7.2/css/all.min.css)     (index.html#main) Skip to content (https://www.wtva.com/)        (https://www.wtva.com/)     (https://www.wtva.com/livestream) Watch Live  (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/news) Videos  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us              (https://www.wtva.com/homepage) Homepage   (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live   (https://www.wtva.com/news) News   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/local/) Local   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/mississippi) Mississippi   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/alabama/) Alabama   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/national/) National      (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/alerts) Alerts   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/radar) Radar   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/maproom) Forecast Maps   (https://www.wtva.com/page/list-of-local-storm-shelters/) Storm Shelters   (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content/) Submit Weather Pictures/Videos   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/closings) Closings   (https://weathercallservices.com/wtva-nexgen) WeatherCall   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/cams) Cameras   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/junior-weather-authority) Junior Weather Authority   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/elijah-experiments) Elijah Experiments      (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/high-school/) High School   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/friday-night-fever) Friday Night Fever   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/scoreboard/) Friday Night Fever Scores   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/college) College   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/national) National   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/05/14/wtva-air-several-atlanta-braves-games-throughout-regular-season/) Atlanta Braves on WTVA      (https://www.wtva.com/page/download-our-apps/) Download WTVA Apps   (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts   (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wtva/browse) Obituaries   (https://www.wtva.com/community) Community   (https://www.wtva.com/community/studio-9) Studio 9 with Tanya Carter   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/06/04/tickets-2026-tupelo-st-jude-dream-home-giveaway-go-sale-june-25/) Tupelo St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/20/wtva-air-celebration-hope-telethon-support-regional-rehab-center/) Celebration of Hope   (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/community/johnny-stars) Johnny D. Talks to the Stars   (https://www.wtva.com/community/made-in-mississippi-americas-music) Mississippi Made: America’s Music   (https://www.wtva.com/community/ask-the-experts) Ask the Experts   (https://www.wtva.com/community/medical-minute) Medical Minute   (https://www.wtva.com/community/legally-speaking) Legally Speaking   (https://www.wtva.com/community/calendar) Community Calendar      (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios   (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise with WTVA   (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Job Openings   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-noon-show-studio-9-interview-request/) Schedule Noon/Studio 9 Interview   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-station-tours) Station Tours   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-accepting-news-weather-and-sports-internships) Internships   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History      (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule   (https://www.wtva.com/page/nextgen) NextGen TV   (https://www.wtva.com/powernation) Powernation   (https://www.investigatetv.com/) InvestigateTV   (https://www.aginguntold.com/) Aging Untold   (https://www.wtva.com/watching-your-wallet) Watching Your Wallet   (https://www.localnewslive.com/news/national/) Local News Live   (https://graymedia.com/assets/pdf/Gray_AI_Policy.pdf) Gray AI Policy    (https://www.facebook.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.x.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.instagram.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGZ3rWmXAfs4iZi-Hr2Ahgg)   (https://www.tiktok.com/@wtva9news)             Family, activists seek meeting with DA over inmate death        Family members and civil rights advocates gathered outside the district attorney’s office in Tupelo Thursday.    By (https://www.wtva.com/authors/Madison-McCarter/) Madison McCarter    Published: Oct. 22, 2026 at 7:43 PM EDT | Updated: 10 hours ago     Share     (https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.wtva.com)  Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google      TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) – Family members and civil rights advocates gathered outside the district attorney’s office in Tupelo Thursday. They sought a meeting with District Attorney Jason Herring to ensure the case of Spencer Eckford is heard during the next grand jury. Herring was not in his Tupelo office when the group gathered. Eckford, of Aberdeen, died in July while in custody at the Monroe County jail.   According to Monroe County Sheriff Kevin Crook, Eckford was arrested on trespassing and public drunkenness charges. Crook said a corrections officer later used a stun gun on Eckford during booking. Eckford later died. The sheriff said his officers have a right to defend themselves. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating Eckford’s death.  The gathering was led by John C. Barnett, a national civil rights activist.  Barnett said getting to know Eckford’s sister helped him better understand the man his family is fighting for. “Those conversations allowed me to bond with her so I could get to know who this man was even more,” Barnett said. “So we’re fighting for justice, and we hope that the grand jury sees this story and maybe it will inspire them to do the right thing. This man was tased to death.” Barnett wants the grand jury to take a close look at the case. The group also hopes to meet with Herring to discuss its concerns. The group says it wants the evidence surrounding Eckford’s death to be fully considered as the case moves forward.  Copyright 2026 WTVA. All rights reserved.            Most Read   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/more-than-4-million-tubes-toothpaste-including-popular-childrens-brand-recalled/) (FILE: More than 4 million tubes of toothpaste, including a popular children’s brand, have been...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/more-than-4-million-tubes-toothpaste-including-popular-childrens-brand-recalled/)   More than 4 million tubes of toothpaste, including popular children’s brand, recalled       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/top-gun-alien-star-tom-skerritt-dies-93/) (Tom Skerritt participates during a Q&A panel at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo on...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/top-gun-alien-star-tom-skerritt-dies-93/)   ‘Top Gun,’ ‘Alien’ star Tom Skerritt dies at 93       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/kamala-harris-visiting-columbus-campaign-scott-colom/) (Scott Colom and former Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage together at the Columbus...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/kamala-harris-visiting-columbus-campaign-scott-colom/) Kamala Harris, Scott Colom rally in Columbus       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/21/president-trump-campaign-mississippi/) (FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 file photo, President Donald Trump brings forth U.S. Sen....)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/21/president-trump-campaign-mississippi/)   President Trump to campaign in Mississippi       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/officials-provide-update-after-2-dead-clinton-assisted-living-facility-fire/) (2 dead in Clinton assisted living facility fire)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/officials-provide-update-after-2-dead-clinton-assisted-living-facility-fire/)   Officials provide update after 2 dead in Clinton assisted living facility fire       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/21/watch-leaked-video-shows-senatobia-police-shooting-that-killed-1-year-old-kohen-wiley/) (WATCH: Leaked video shows moments leading up to deadly Senatobia police shooting of 1-year-old...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/21/watch-leaked-video-shows-senatobia-police-shooting-that-killed-1-year-old-kohen-wiley/)   WATCH: Leaked video shows Senatobia police shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/live-family-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-attorney-ben-crump-address-media-after-viewing-bodycam-video/) (‘Justice for Baby Kohen’: Family, Ben Crump call Kohen Wiley shooting unjustified after...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/live-family-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-attorney-ben-crump-address-media-after-viewing-bodycam-video/)   ‘Justice for Baby Kohen’: Family, Ben Crump call Kohen Wiley shooting unjustified after viewing bodycam video       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/former-nhl-star-ron-duguay-known-later-relationship-with-sarah-palin-dies-cancer-69/) (FILE - Former New York Ranger Ron Duguay introduces a performance by the cast of "Come From...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/former-nhl-star-ron-duguay-known-later-relationship-with-sarah-palin-dies-cancer-69/)   Former NHL star Ron Duguay, known later for relationship with Sarah Palin, dies of cancer at 69         Latest News   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/23/tupelo-police-enforce-downtown-parking-limit/) (A two-hour parking sign in downtown Tupelo, Miss.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/23/tupelo-police-enforce-downtown-parking-limit/) Tupelo police to enforce downtown parking limit       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/23/state-releases-footage-police-shooting-1-year-old-kohen-wiley/) (State releases new footage in shooting of one-year-old)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/23/state-releases-footage-police-shooting-1-year-old-kohen-wiley/)   State releases footage of police shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/22/family-activists-seek-meeting-with-da-over-inmate-death/) (Family members and civil rights advocates gathered outside the district attorney’s office in...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/22/family-activists-seek-meeting-with-da-over-inmate-death/) Family, activists seek meeting with DA over inmate death       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/22/doors-have-closed-scott-colom-rally-begins-columbus/) (The doors have closed as the Scott Colom rally featuring former Vice President Kamala Harris...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/22/doors-have-closed-scott-colom-rally-begins-columbus/) Doors have closed as Scott Colom rally begins in Columbus       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/22/excitement-grows-ahead-presidents-midterm-rally-stop-corinth/) (President Donald Trump will hold a political rally in Corinth.)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/22/excitement-grows-ahead-presidents-midterm-rally-stop-corinth/) Excitement grows ahead of president’s midterm rally stop in Corinth       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/22/attendees-roll-ahead-scott-colom-rally-featuring-former-vice-president/) (Attendees are packing into the Columbus High gym for the Scott Colom rally featuring former...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/22/attendees-roll-ahead-scott-colom-rally-featuring-former-vice-president/) Attendees roll in ahead of Scott Colom Rally featuring former vice president       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/interview-zach-bellas-rock-blue-canoe/) (Singer-songwriter Zach Bellas is coming to Tupelo.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/22/interview-zach-bellas-rock-blue-canoe/)   Interview: Zach Bellas to rock the Blue Canoe                    (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History  (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule  (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts  (https://www.wtva.com/news/national) National  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios  (https://www.wtva.com/news/aging-untold) Aging Untold  (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content) User Content  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us  (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live  (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Careers  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise With Us  (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests    WTVA 1359 Beech Springs Rd. Saltillo, MS 38866 (662) 842-7620        (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/tv-profile/WTVA?id=74148) Public Inspection File  (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/44b0393b-6e1d-d077-2286-c4dce8204a03/e419083c-81a2-421f-8307-ef9e06a9d5cf.pdf) EEO Report  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gdm/fcc/wtva-fcc_applications.pdf) FCC Applications  (https://www.wtva.com/page/closed-captioning/) Closed Captioning/Audio Description  (https://www.wtva.com/terms-of-service/) Terms of Service  (https://www.wtva.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy  (mailto:traffic@wtva.com) Traffic Contact Email  (tel:662-842-7620) 662-842-7620  (https://www.wtva.com/advertising) Advertising    (https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/Gray-AI-Policy.pdf) Click here to learn more about our approach to artificial intelligence.  A Gray Local Media Station © 2002-2026