With the grand jury’s “no bill” issued in the case against Claudis D. Montgomery, Brookhaven now has three murder cases without arrests for the year.

Montgomery, 40, of 4208 Highway 550, was arrested and charged with murder on July 7 after the shooting of Kelcay Humphrey, 25, at Cloverdale No. 73. He was released from jail Monday after the grand jury refused to indict him.

The lack of indictment doesn’t necessarily mean he is innocent, but it means the grand jury did not believe there was significant cause to indict Montgomery.

There also has been no arrest in the July murder of Bridget Hall. Hall was fatally shot in her home on Vivian Merritt Street in July.

The most recent murder in Brookhaven is also lacking an arrest. Aquarius Nelson, 26, of 905 East Independence St., was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at KDMC in November. The fatal shooting is alleged to have taken place on Walnut Street.

The lack of arrests isn’t necessarily a reflection of poor police work. More than likely, it’s a result of someone with information about these crimes not talking. Surely someone knows what happened in one of those three murders. Surely someone saw something.

Until those individuals are willing to talk to police, these murders will likely remain unsolved.  Police Chief Bobby Bell has pleaded with the public to come forward if they have information about the cases. We’ll do the same. If you’ve heard something, or know something, please call police.

Anyone with information can also call Crimestoppers at 601-823-0150. Tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000.