Gary Poplar, 56, a resident of Benton County, Mississippi, was fatally shot during what authorities believe was a verbal altercation that escalated to violence on Saturday evening, April 11, 2026. The incident occurred at a horse show in the Wall Hill area along Highway 309 near Byhalia in Marshall County, Mississippi.
The shooting emerged from a confrontation between Gary Poplar and Milton Burton of Byhalia, Mississippi. According to investigators, the incident began as a verbal altercation between the two men at the horse show event. The nature of the dispute and the specific circumstances that led to the escalation remain under investigation by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. The altercation quickly turned violent, resulting in Poplar being shot.
Following the shooting, Milton Burton did not flee the scene or attempt to evade law enforcement. Instead, Burton voluntarily turned himself in to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, demonstrating cooperation with authorities in the immediate aftermath of the incident. His decision to surrender himself to law enforcement expedited the arrest process and allowed authorities to take him into custody without further incident.
Upon his surrender, Milton Burton was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Gary Poplar. His arraignment was scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2026, marking the formal commencement of legal proceedings in the case. The prompt arrest and scheduling of arraignment reflected the seriousness of the charges and the circumstances of the incident.
The shooting of Gary Poplar occurred during a particularly violent weekend in Marshall County, as multiple shootings were reported in the area during the same time period. On the same Saturday night, another shooting incident occurred north of Red Banks, Mississippi, resulting in one person being airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Additionally, a third shooting on Sunday, April 12, 2026, resulted in the death of a 19-year-old in the Holly Springs area. These incidents highlighted the escalating violence in the region during that weekend.
The death of Gary Poplar serves as a tragic reminder of how quickly social gatherings can turn violent and how verbal disputes can escalate to fatal consequences. The incident at the horse show in Byhalia has left an impact on the local community and raises questions about conflict resolution and safety at public events. As the legal proceedings against Milton Burton continue, authorities will work to establish the full circumstances of the altercation and the events that led to Poplar’s death.