The Meridian Police Department is investigating the city’s second murder this week.

Officers responded to a shots fired call around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near 29th Avenue and 36th Street, where they found a man lying in the front yard of a home, unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

The victim, identified as 31-year-old Rodney Harris, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Authorities said it appeared that Harris was ambushed while he was getting out of his car after returning home.

A motive hasn’t been determined in the case, and detectives were interviewing witnesses Thursday afternoon, MPD Lt. Rita Jack said.

Police are urging anyone with information in the case to call the Meridian Police Department at 601- 485-1893 or Crimestoppers at 877 485-8477.

Victim identified in Monday shooting death

The death is the second murder in the city this week, after police on Monday arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of his estranged girlfriend at the Americas Best Value Inn on St. Paul Street.

The victim in that case was identified as Tatanisha Berry, 30, police said.

The suspect in that shooting, James Starks, 30, appeared before Judge Robbie Jones in Meridian municipal court Monday afternoon. Starks waived his preliminary hearing and the case was sent to a grand jury.

A man injured in that shooting was taken to a local hospital, where he had surgery Monday morning, police said. An update on the man’s condition wasn’t available on Thursday.

Bianca Moorman contributed reporting.