RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family of a man who was killed in Rankin County. According to the fundraiser, the funds will help pay for the funeral expenses of William Earl Morris, 36.

“Billy was such a kind hearted, loving man. He loved hard,” said Emily Swilley, the mother of Morris’ children.

According to Rankin County investigators, Morris was killed in the 3300 block of Highway 80 on August 27, 2025.

Matthew Brian Kidd was charged with murder in connection to the case. Kidd was also charged in connection to the fatal shooting of Christian Storey on Gayden Street in Brandon on August 28, 2025.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said authorities received a tip that Kidd had checked into a Brandon hotel on August 29, 2025. He said witnesses had seen Kidd on the news and called law enforcement.

Brandon police and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to the hotel and executed a search warrant. Kidd was arrested without incident, and a weapon was recovered from the room.

“It doesn’t bring me any type of relief or feeling of closure or anything. I mean, you saw him when he was apprehended, smiling ear to ear, and he still to this day has that same smiley attitude about it. Like his direct quote was, ‘Mission accomplished.’ So whether he’s apprehended or not, he does not care that he’s ended not only Billy’s life, but in a sense my children’s, too. They’re going to mourn for their father every day of their life,” said Swilley.

Kidd is expected to appear in Rankin County court on September 9, 2025.