CANTON, Miss. (WJTV) – Canton police announced a man was arrested for allegedly beating someone to death with an iron rebar.

Canton Police Chief Otha Brown said the victim, Devonta Perry, 29, of Canton, was found lying in a pool of blood on S. Harvey Watkins Drive just before 9:00 p.m. on September 30, 2025. Perry was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

When officers were investigating, Brown said they checked some homes in the area and made contact with Jeremy Ealy. According to officers, Ealy initially claimed he didn’t know the victim, but he later admitted that he beat Perry with an iron rebar.

Brown said Ealy told officers that the victim had a weapon, but no weapon was found on the victim.

Ealy was initially charged with assault, which was later upgraded to murder. He is being held at the Madison County Detention Center until his initial appearance in court.