IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2024-KA-01022-COA
DAVID ALLEN BRELAND A/K/A DAVID APPELLANT BRELAND
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/21/2024 TRIAL JUDGE: HON. ROBERT B. HELFRICH COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: FORREST COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: OFFICE OF STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER BY: MOLLIE MARIE McMILLIN ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY: JULIANNE KAY BAILEY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: EARL LINDSAY CARTER JR. NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 03/03/2026 MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
BEFORE BARNES, C.J., WEDDLE AND LASSITTER ST. PÉ, JJ.
WEDDLE, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. A Forrest County Circuit Court jury convicted David Breland of one count of first-
degree murder and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. The circuit court sentenced
him to serve a term of life imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of
Corrections (MDOC) for murder. The circuit court also sentenced him to serve a term of five
years in MDOC custody for leaving the scene of an accident, with the sentences set to run
concurrently. Aggrieved, Breland argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict him
and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel.
FACTS ¶2. On April 29, 2023, Officer Eric Lopez of the Hattiesburg Police Department
responded to a call about a man lying injured on the side of the road. When Officer Lopez
arrived, he noticed an unresponsive black male, later identified as Tyra Canady. Officer
Lopez testified that Canady was “wet from the dew” and had “ants on him.” The officer also
noticed tire tracks leading to him and debris from a vehicle. Canady was taken to Forrest
General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
¶3. A surveillance video showed a vehicle swerving off the road several times near Camp
Street where Canady was found. The video also showed that the driver of the vehicle did not
apply the brakes.1 After further investigation, law enforcement was able to determine that the
parts from the vehicle that struck Canady were from a silver 2019 Chevy Cruze. The
investigation led to Sergeant Gerald Essary questioning Breland on May 5, 2023. A Chevy
Cruze was registered to Breland, and Breland lived near the scene of the crime. When
Sergeant Essary arrived at Breland’s home, he noticed Breland’s vehicle had significant
damage to the front driver’s side. When Sergeant Essary asked Breland about the vehicle, he
admitted that he was the usual driver of the vehicle, and he claimed that his vehicle was
damaged because he hit a deer on the way home from work on “Saturday or Sunday.”2
Breland was taken into custody for further questioning.
1 Additionally, Lieutenant Jason Jarvis, who conducts accident reconstruction for the Hattiesburg Police Department, testified that after examining the tire marks in the grass, he observed that there was no indication of any braking because there were no sliding marks. 2 Body-camera footage revealed that Breland continuously changed the time he usually got off work. It was later discovered that Breland got off at 8:36 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023, the night before Canady was found.
2 ¶4. According to Sergeant Essary’s testimony at trial, once at the station, Breland
continued to change his story about where he was during the time Canady was believed to
have been hit. Breland eventually admitted to Sergeant Essary that he did encounter a black
male that night, whom Essary later determined to be Canady. Breland claimed that Canady
chased him back to his vehicle, but he was able to drive away. Breland continued to deny that
he hit anybody with his car that night; however, the car parts that were recovered from the
crime scene visually matched the damage to Breland’s vehicle.
¶5. During the State’s case-in-chief, the jury heard testimony from Officer Lopez, Dr.
Robert Stringer from Forrest General Hospital, Sergeant Essary, and Lieutenant Jarvis. After
the State rested, Breland moved to dismiss the charges alleging the State failed to make a
prima facie case and failed to identify him at the scene at any time. The circuit court found
that the State had met its burden and created a question of fact for the jury. After Breland was
informed of his right to testify and not testify, the defense rested without Breland taking the
stand.
¶6. After the jury deliberated, Breland was found guilty of one count of first-degree
murder and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. The circuit court sentenced him
to serve a term of life imprisonment and a term of five years in MDOC custody, with the
sentences set to run concurrently. Subsequently, Breland filed a motion for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) or a new trial, which the trial court ultimately denied.
Aggrieved, Breland appeals.
DISCUSSION
3 I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶7. Appellate courts review whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain a conviction de
novo. Watts v. State, 402 So. 3d 744, 748 (¶17) (Miss. 2025). When reviewing a challenge
to the sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution. Id. “The relevant question is whether any rational trier of fact could have found
the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Brooks v. State, 402 So. 3d
787, 790 (¶7) (Miss. Ct. App. 2025).
¶8. Breland was convicted of first-degree murder. Mississippi Code Annotated section
97-3-19(1)(a) (Rev. 2020) defines first-degree murder as the “killing of a human being
without the authority of law by any means or in any manner . . . [w]hen done with deliberate
design to effect the death of the person killed.” The State was required to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that (1) Breland killed Canady, (2) without the authority of law, and (3)
with deliberate design to effect his death. Williams v. State, 164 So. 3d 1078, 1080 (¶7)
(Miss. Ct. App. 2015).
¶9. Breland contends that the State failed to present any evidence that he intended to
swerve, much less that he intended to hit Canady. “Intent is a question of fact gleaned by the
jury.” Pace v. State, 369 So. 3d 588, 597 (¶30) (Miss. Ct. App. 2023).3 “It [is] within the
jury’s province to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence based on their experience
and common sense.” Broomfield v. State, 878 So. 2d 207, 215 (¶30) (Miss. Ct. App. 2004);
3 The jury was appropriately instructed that “malice or intent to kill may be inferred” from the intentional use of a deadly weapon. See Gunn v. State, 374 So. 3d 1206, 1210-11 (¶17) (Miss. 2023); see also Brooks v. State, 18 So. 3d 833, 836 n.4 (Miss. 2009) (“[A] vehicle driven in a dangerous manner would be considered a deadly weapon.”).
4 see Armistad v. State, 412 So. 3d 399, 414 (¶59) (Miss. Ct. App. 2024) (“Intent may be
established by inference from circumstantial evidence.”). A jury’s finding of fact is not to be
overturned when there is credible evidence in the record from which the jury could have
reasonably inferred the offense. Id. In this case, Sergeant Essary testified that after changing
his story several times, Breland eventually admitted to interacting with Canady, which led
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2024-KA-01022-COA
DAVID ALLEN BRELAND A/K/A DAVID APPELLANT BRELAND
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/21/2024 TRIAL JUDGE: HON. ROBERT B. HELFRICH COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: FORREST COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: OFFICE OF STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER BY: MOLLIE MARIE McMILLIN ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY: JULIANNE KAY BAILEY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: EARL LINDSAY CARTER JR. NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 03/03/2026 MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
BEFORE BARNES, C.J., WEDDLE AND LASSITTER ST. PÉ, JJ.
WEDDLE, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. A Forrest County Circuit Court jury convicted David Breland of one count of first-
degree murder and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. The circuit court sentenced
him to serve a term of life imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of
Corrections (MDOC) for murder. The circuit court also sentenced him to serve a term of five
years in MDOC custody for leaving the scene of an accident, with the sentences set to run
concurrently. Aggrieved, Breland argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict him
and that he received ineffective assistance of counsel.
FACTS ¶2. On April 29, 2023, Officer Eric Lopez of the Hattiesburg Police Department
responded to a call about a man lying injured on the side of the road. When Officer Lopez
arrived, he noticed an unresponsive black male, later identified as Tyra Canady. Officer
Lopez testified that Canady was “wet from the dew” and had “ants on him.” The officer also
noticed tire tracks leading to him and debris from a vehicle. Canady was taken to Forrest
General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
¶3. A surveillance video showed a vehicle swerving off the road several times near Camp
Street where Canady was found. The video also showed that the driver of the vehicle did not
apply the brakes.1 After further investigation, law enforcement was able to determine that the
parts from the vehicle that struck Canady were from a silver 2019 Chevy Cruze. The
investigation led to Sergeant Gerald Essary questioning Breland on May 5, 2023. A Chevy
Cruze was registered to Breland, and Breland lived near the scene of the crime. When
Sergeant Essary arrived at Breland’s home, he noticed Breland’s vehicle had significant
damage to the front driver’s side. When Sergeant Essary asked Breland about the vehicle, he
admitted that he was the usual driver of the vehicle, and he claimed that his vehicle was
damaged because he hit a deer on the way home from work on “Saturday or Sunday.”2
Breland was taken into custody for further questioning.
1 Additionally, Lieutenant Jason Jarvis, who conducts accident reconstruction for the Hattiesburg Police Department, testified that after examining the tire marks in the grass, he observed that there was no indication of any braking because there were no sliding marks. 2 Body-camera footage revealed that Breland continuously changed the time he usually got off work. It was later discovered that Breland got off at 8:36 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023, the night before Canady was found.
2 ¶4. According to Sergeant Essary’s testimony at trial, once at the station, Breland
continued to change his story about where he was during the time Canady was believed to
have been hit. Breland eventually admitted to Sergeant Essary that he did encounter a black
male that night, whom Essary later determined to be Canady. Breland claimed that Canady
chased him back to his vehicle, but he was able to drive away. Breland continued to deny that
he hit anybody with his car that night; however, the car parts that were recovered from the
crime scene visually matched the damage to Breland’s vehicle.
¶5. During the State’s case-in-chief, the jury heard testimony from Officer Lopez, Dr.
Robert Stringer from Forrest General Hospital, Sergeant Essary, and Lieutenant Jarvis. After
the State rested, Breland moved to dismiss the charges alleging the State failed to make a
prima facie case and failed to identify him at the scene at any time. The circuit court found
that the State had met its burden and created a question of fact for the jury. After Breland was
informed of his right to testify and not testify, the defense rested without Breland taking the
stand.
¶6. After the jury deliberated, Breland was found guilty of one count of first-degree
murder and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. The circuit court sentenced him
to serve a term of life imprisonment and a term of five years in MDOC custody, with the
sentences set to run concurrently. Subsequently, Breland filed a motion for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) or a new trial, which the trial court ultimately denied.
Aggrieved, Breland appeals.
DISCUSSION
3 I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
¶7. Appellate courts review whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain a conviction de
novo. Watts v. State, 402 So. 3d 744, 748 (¶17) (Miss. 2025). When reviewing a challenge
to the sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
prosecution. Id. “The relevant question is whether any rational trier of fact could have found
the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Brooks v. State, 402 So. 3d
787, 790 (¶7) (Miss. Ct. App. 2025).
¶8. Breland was convicted of first-degree murder. Mississippi Code Annotated section
97-3-19(1)(a) (Rev. 2020) defines first-degree murder as the “killing of a human being
without the authority of law by any means or in any manner . . . [w]hen done with deliberate
design to effect the death of the person killed.” The State was required to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that (1) Breland killed Canady, (2) without the authority of law, and (3)
with deliberate design to effect his death. Williams v. State, 164 So. 3d 1078, 1080 (¶7)
(Miss. Ct. App. 2015).
¶9. Breland contends that the State failed to present any evidence that he intended to
swerve, much less that he intended to hit Canady. “Intent is a question of fact gleaned by the
jury.” Pace v. State, 369 So. 3d 588, 597 (¶30) (Miss. Ct. App. 2023).3 “It [is] within the
jury’s province to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence based on their experience
and common sense.” Broomfield v. State, 878 So. 2d 207, 215 (¶30) (Miss. Ct. App. 2004);
3 The jury was appropriately instructed that “malice or intent to kill may be inferred” from the intentional use of a deadly weapon. See Gunn v. State, 374 So. 3d 1206, 1210-11 (¶17) (Miss. 2023); see also Brooks v. State, 18 So. 3d 833, 836 n.4 (Miss. 2009) (“[A] vehicle driven in a dangerous manner would be considered a deadly weapon.”).
4 see Armistad v. State, 412 So. 3d 399, 414 (¶59) (Miss. Ct. App. 2024) (“Intent may be
established by inference from circumstantial evidence.”). A jury’s finding of fact is not to be
overturned when there is credible evidence in the record from which the jury could have
reasonably inferred the offense. Id. In this case, Sergeant Essary testified that after changing
his story several times, Breland eventually admitted to interacting with Canady, which led
to Breland being chased back to his car. The evidence presented at trial showed that
following that initial interaction, without applying his brakes, Breland intentionally swerved
off the road at a high rate of speed near where Canady was later found, and the car parts
found at the scene visually matched the damaged parts of Breland’s vehicle. Based on these
facts, we find that a jury, under appropriate instructions from the court, could reasonably
infer that Breland had the intent to hit Canady with his vehicle. Therefore, considering the
evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we find that there was sufficient evidence
to convict Breland of first-degree murder.
II. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
¶10. Breland alleges his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to offer a culpable
negligence manslaughter instruction. To prove his counsel was ineffective, Breland must
show (1) his counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2) the deficient performance
prejudiced his defense. Kleckner v. State, 230 So. 3d 1042, 1043-44 (¶5) (Miss. Ct. App.
2017). “The defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the
challenged action ‘might be considered sound trial strategy.’” Id. (quoting Quinn v. State,
191 So. 3d 1227, 1234 (¶27) (Miss. 2016)).
5 ¶11. “[G]enerally, ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims are more appropriately brought
during post-conviction proceedings. This Court will address such claims on direct appeal
when [1] the record affirmatively shows ineffectiveness of constitutional dimensions, or [2]
the parties stipulate that the record is adequate and the Court determines that the findings of
fact by a trial judge able to consider the demeanor of witnesses, etc.[,] are not needed. This
Court has also resolved ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims on direct appeal when the
record affirmatively shows that the claims are without merit.” Ross v. State, 288 So. 3d 317,
324 (¶29) (Miss. 2020) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). Reviewing the
record on appeal, we find that Breland’s claim is without merit. Therefore, we fully resolve
his claim on direct appeal.
¶12. When claiming ineffective assistance of counsel because of jury instructions, “[i]t is
the duty of the appellant to demonstrate both error in failing to receive the instruction and the
prejudice to the defense.” Havard v. State, 928 So. 2d 771, 789 (¶28) (Miss. 2006) (quoting
Burnside v. State, 882 So. 2d 212, 216 (¶22) (Miss. 2004)). “There is a strong presumption
that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance and
that the challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy.” Byrd v. State, 294 So.
3d 86, 94 (¶30) (Miss. Ct. App. 2019). Here, it is clear from the record that trial counsel’s
strategy was to claim that the State failed to place Breland at the scene of the crime or prove
that he hit Canady. Our Supreme Court has held that “trial counsel’s decision to not request
a jury instruction falls under the category of trial tactics, which are not subject to review.”
Id. at 95 (¶31) (quoting Neal v. State, 15 So. 3d 388, 406 (¶43) (Miss. 2009)).
6 ¶13. Notwithstanding Breland’s trial defense, the jury was given a second-degree murder
instruction.4 Our Supreme Court has described second-degree murder as “a reckless and
eminently dangerous act directed toward a single individual.” Swanagan v. State, 229 So. 3d
698, 704 (¶24) (Miss. 2017). However, the jury concluded from the evidence presented that
Breland acted with the deliberate design to effect the death of Canady.
¶14. Accordingly, we find Breland’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim is without
merit.
CONCLUSION
¶15. We find that the State presented sufficient evidence to support Breland’s first-degree
murder conviction, and his ineffective assistance of counsel claim is without merit.
Therefore, we affirm Breland’s convictions and sentences.
¶16. AFFIRMED.
BARNES, C.J., CARLTON AND WILSON, P.JJ., McDONALD, LAWRENCE, McCARTY, EMFINGER AND LASSITTER ST. PÉ, JJ., CONCUR. WESTBROOKS, J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.
4 Breland’s trial counsel also proposed a heat of passion manslaughter instruction. However, the trial court correctly refused to accept the instruction because there was no evidence to support a heat of passion instruction.