District Attorney: Mass murder suspect is Vice Lord gang member

JACKSON, Tenn. – District 26 District Attorney Jody Pickens is reaffirming a long-standing warning about the danger posed by Austin Drummond, the man now accused of murdering four members of the same family in West Tennessee.

Drummond, a confirmed member of the Vice Lords gang, had previously been prosecuted by Pickens in a 2013 armed robbery case that resulted in a decade-long prison sentence. At the time, Drummond was convicted of entering a Circle K convenience store and pointing a revolver at the clerk during the robbery.

When Drummond became eligible for parole in 2020, Pickens wrote a letter to the parole board strongly urging against his release. In the letter, Pickens described Drummond as “a dangerous felony offender and confirmed member of the Vice Lords,” highlighting his gang affiliation and history of violent behavior.

The letter also recounted a disturbing phone call Drummond made from jail following his conviction, in which he threatened jurors and the victim, stating, “They’re going to regret it,” and “I’ll be out one day.” Those threats led to an additional three years being added to his original sentence.

Drummond was ultimately released in 2023. Less than a year later, he is now facing charges in the brutal killing of four family members — a tragic confirmation of the very fears DA Pickens expressed years ago.

“This is exactly what we tried to prevent,” Pickens told FOX13’s Investigative Team, emphasizing the systemic risk of releasing known violent offenders without proper oversight.

The investigation into the quadruple homicide is ongoing.