Mississippi man sentenced in shooting death of Tuscaloosa native Kennis Croom

A Mississippi man will spend the rest of his life in prison in connection with the 2022 shooting death of Meridian Police Officer Kennis Croom, a Tuscaloosa native.

Dante Marquez Bender appeared May 22 before Mississippi Circuit Court Judge Charles Wright at the Lauderdale County Courthouse, according to multiple media reports. During the hearing, Bender pleaded guilty to killing Croom and Brittany Jones on June 9, 2022.

More: Farewell to a Hero: Friends, family celebrate life of late Mississippi police officer

Bender was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the capital murder in Croom's death and life in prison for the first-degree murder of Jones, who authorities said was in a relationship with Bender. Bender will serve his sentences consecutively.

Croom, 30, died while responding to a domestic disturbance call involving Bender and Jones. Mississippi authorities have said that Croom responded to the call on his day off. Officials in Mississippi called Croom a hero for saving the life of four children before he was killed.

According to the Croom family, Croom was  enrolled at Belhaven University and working to earn a master of business administration at the time of his death.

Croom was born and raised in Tuscaloosa. He was the son of former Tuscaloosa City Clerk Tracy Croom and the Rev. Kelvin Croom, now the senior pastor at Tuscaloosa's College Hill Baptist Church and an ex-defensive back for the Crimson Tide and legendary Alabama coach Paul W. "Bear" Bryant in the 1970s.

Croom's father thanked Mississippi authorities for the support he and Croom family received, according to the Meridian Star.

“We’re just glad that this has come to an end, and hopefully now we can find peace,” Kelvin Croom told the Star.

Kennis Croom was also the nephew of Sylvester Croom, a standout center for the Crimson Tide from 1972-74 who went on to become the first Black head football coach in the Southeastern Conference when he was hired in 2004 by Mississippi State University and, earlier this year, was selected as part of the 2022 class of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Hundreds gathered on June 18, 2022, afternoon at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa to celebrate the Croom's life.

Friends, family, community members and law enforcement officers from across West Alabama and Mississippi, where Croom served with the Meridian Police Department, joined the service to pay their respects to Croom.

Following the ceremony, a procession led Croom's body to its final resting place at Memory Hill Gardens on Skyland Boulevard.

The Croom family's foundation has established the Officer Kennis Croom Memorial Scholarship to keep his memory alive and help others achieve their educational goals.

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Man sentenced in late Mississippi officer Kennis Croom's death