Anatomy of a murder

The Clarion-Ledger investigates a gangs 2013 killing behind bars. What role, if any, did prison officials play in the events leading to the slaying of Clifton Majors.

A tower officer opened the cell door to enable a gang killing inside the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, a witness told investigators.

And after Tyler "Psycho" Smith who has a history of assaulting fellow inmates and correctional officers had finished choking and stomping Clifton Majors that night of Sept. 1, 2013, Smith returned to that same tower officer, celebrating his kill, a video shows.

Prosecutors didn't know the video existed until The Clarion-Ledger showed it to them. District Attorney Michael Guest said they're investigating.

Records obtained by The Clarion-Ledger raise questions about what roles, if any, prison officials played in the events leading to Majors' murder.

They fired the tower officer the next day, according to those records, but Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps denied any officer played a role in the slaying.

Records show prison officials fired the tower officer the next day, but Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps denied any officer played a role in the killing.

"The MDOC investigation did not reveal any officer opened the cell door," he said. "MDOC refers any case for prosecution where credible evidence reveals a crime has been committed."

Clifton Smith (Photo: Mississippi Department of Corrections)

In 2000, Majors and his brother, Scott, got sent to prison for their involvement in an armed robbery.

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Anatomy of a murder