Woman charged with murder of girlfriend in Smyrna

Caprice Kellum of Biloxi, Mississippi was arrested and charged with murder after she confessed to killing her girlfriend, Shaikia Strong, in a Smyrna hotel room.

According to the Smyrna Police warrant, Kellum, 23,  killed Strong by shooting her twice with a handgun — once in the cheek and once in the lower neck — between 1 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 22 at a room in the InTown Suites Extended Stay on Highland Parkway in Smyrna. A native of West Point, Mississippi, Strong, whose real name was Shai’Kia Margina, was just 24.

After the shooting, Kellum fled the scene and left Strong’s body at the motel, where she died of her injuries. Kellum left the Smyrna area and drove to her hometown of Biloxi, where she stayed with her sister.

Kellum confessed to the Biloxi Police Department on Dec. 23 to murdering Strong. She also admitted to picking up shell casings at the crime scene and throwing them out of her car during the drive to Mississippi. Kellum missed one of the shell casings, which was recovered by police at the crime scene.

Once in Biloxi, Police say Kellum admitted to changing out of her clothes, putting them in a backpack, and storing the backpack in a storage unit in that city. Kellum also admitted to stealing $324 out of Strong’s car, which police later located in Kellum’s car.

After she confessed to Mississippi authorities, Smyrna police were contacted. They later visited the motel and located Strong’s body. Kellum was later arrested on Dec. 31 in Gulfport, Mississippi by Cobb County Sheriff Officers.

Smyrna Police Lt. Louis Defense said they believe the killing stemmed from a domestic dispute and have charged Kellum with five felonies: murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, entering an auto with intent to commit theft, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Jail records show Kellum in the Cobb County jail since Jan. 4. Due to the nature of the crimes, she is not eligible for bond.