Police in Vicksburg, Mississippi, say 53-year-old Valtricia Garrett was killed by her husband, 40-year-old Cedric Garrett, on Friday, November 13, and that he took his own life as officers tried to talk to him behind the Vicksburg Convalescent Home. Investigators believe he killed her before the standoff. Police Chief Larry Burns said Cedric Garrett had been arrested for domestic violence in 2017 and 2018, and that another domestic violence report was filed a couple of months ago. Her brother says the family had buried their mother about 30 days earlier.
The Vicksburg murder-suicide has left a family with a second devastating loss in a month and a community shaken by a case that unfolded on social media before police arrived.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.
What Police Say Happened
Vicksburg police said a Facebook Live video from Cedric Garrett’s account began circulating on social media early Friday morning. In it, according to police and family, he said he had killed his wife.
At about 9 a.m., officers responded to the area behind the Vicksburg Convalescent Home for a welfare check after reports that Garrett was inside a vehicle with a firearm. Officers set up a perimeter and tried to resolve the situation peacefully.
Burns said officers talked with him for “upward of 20 minutes” and it appeared things were heading toward a peaceful resolution. “And then all of a sudden, he took the weapon and took his life,” Burns said. Officers then approached and confirmed that Valtricia Garrett was dead inside the vehicle. Police have described the case as a “domestic related incident” that left two people dead, and said more information will be released as the investigation continues.
A History of Domestic Violence Reports
Burns said the couple had a documented history of domestic violence. “I do know that we arrested the male in 2017 and 2018 for domestic violence,” he said. “And then in 2026, as recent as a couple of months ago, there was a report filed relative to domestic violence.”
Family Remembers Valtricia Garrett
Her brother, Andre Moore, said he learned about the video through a phone call from a friend early Friday. “I got a phone call from my friend saying that her husband was online saying that he had killed my sister,” Moore said.
“There’s no words that I can possibly say for the loss of my sister,” Moore said. He described her as a mother and grandmother who had been trying to move on and had already left Cedric. “She was a loving person in the community. She would help anybody,” he said.
The loss follows another in the family. “We’re beyond heartbroken,” Moore said. “Like I just said, we just buried our mother about 30 days ago. Now we have to deal with this tragedy.”
What We Don’t Know
Police have not released how Valtricia Garrett died, and the investigation is continuing. Officials have not described the full circumstances that led to the incident. Claims posted about the couple on social media have not been confirmed by police.
Warning Signs and Where to Find Help
Domestic violence experts note that the period when one partner leaves a relationship can be among the most dangerous. Many cases involve a history of earlier reports, but each situation is different.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, free and confidential support is available around the clock through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by texting START to 88788. In an emergency, call 911.
What Comes Next
The Vicksburg Police Department’s investigation is ongoing, and this story will be updated as more information becomes available.
