Vicksburg Police Lt. David Beard and Officer Beverly Prentiss search for evidence at the scene of a shooting Monday on the corner of Bodley and First North streets.(C. Todd Sherman The Vicksburg Post)

[06/24/03] A Vicksburg teen was jailed Monday, accused of shooting at a woman just after she left two of her children at a day-care center and was driving away with a third.

Gracie Daniel, owner of Toddler Land Educational Center, 1207 First North St., said she saw two men sitting on the steps of a vacant house, looking at the day-care center before at least four shots were fired, but she didn’t believe there was any reason to feel threatened.

“I didn’t pay them any attention,” Daniel said. “I wish I would have.”

Daniel said after she heard gunfire, she locked the day-care door and didn’t open it for anyone she didn’t know. The second person was not identified.

Witnesses said they had seen the teen, later identified as H.D. Ford, 18, 1950 Hope St. 9B, sitting and sipping a 32-ounce beer for about 20 to 30 minutes on the steps of a vacant house at 1201 First North St. At about 10:45, his ex-girlfriend, identified as Lakeisha Walker, 21, drove up to leave her children at the center.

Witnesses said that while Walker was inside, Ford walked to hedges next to the house and pulled out a gun when he saw her exit. She got inside her Chevrolet Malibu and was driving away with a third child when she heard the shots hitting underneath her car, she said.

“I was dropping my little girls off at the day care when he started shooting,” Walker said.

She said Ford was upset because she had refused to drop charges of domestic violence and stalking she filed against him.

No one was injured in the shooting, but Walker said bullets hit the bottom of her car.

Police spokesman DaVon Grey said Ford fled the scene, and police later received a call about a possible burglar on Rifle Range Road. When the police answered that call, they spotted Ford on foot with a handgun. He ran into a wooded area, but was arrested on Smokey Lane about 12:28 p.m.

He was booked into the Warren County Jail on two counts of attempted aggravated assault, burglary, grand larceny and shooting into an occupied dwelling. His bond was set at $40,000.