City woman, 20, found dead from gunshot wound|[11/27/06]
Published 12:00 am Monday, November 27, 2006
Vicksburg authorities arriving at the scene of a medical call Sunday morning found a woman dead from a gunshot wound, but are saying nothing else.
Amanda Yevette DeVaul, 20, 807 Second North St., died of a single gunshot wound to her chest, an autopsy showed, said Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey.
In Mississippi, coroners rule on the cause of death, in this case a gunshot, and the manner – whether homicide, suicide, accident or natural causes.
“It is a homicide,” Huskey said, referring all other questions to police.
However, police declined to say whether they think DeVaul was a victim of foul play. They responded at 1:20 a.m. to what was initially a medical call to the house. They had no comment on whether DeVaul was alone, whether a weapon was found or who placed the call for medical assistance.
“She was shot, and that’s all we can say right now,” said Sgt. Sandra Johnson. “It’s still under investigation, and toxicology tests are pending.”
Her body was released to Marshall Funeral Home in Bude.
The killing was Vicksburg’s second of the year. On July 23, Greg Jones, 29, 105 Quinola Lane, was shot to death near an apartment building in Kings, off North Washington Street. James Morris, 16, 1655 Standard Hill Road, was arrested in the 700 block of U.S. 61 North about two hours after police said he shot Jones. He was charged with murder and those charges are pending.
Seven homicides were recorded in Vicksburg in 2005.
This year in Warren County, four homicides have been recorded – the first since 2004. They were: