Arrests made in athletes’ shootings

Published 1:33 pm Tuesday, November 16, 2010

HATTIESBURG — Hattiesburg police have made two arrests in Sunday’s shooting of three Southern Miss football players.

Police during a press conference today, reports said, said the two — Patricia L. Brown and Cleothus Wilkinson, both of Bassfield — have been charged as accessories after the fact. Police said they were looking for a Travis Brown on aggravated assault charges, but did not say where he was from or if he is related to Patricia L. Brown.

Linebackers Martez Smith, 22, of Canton, and Tim Green, 21, of Columbia, S.C., along with defensive end Deddrick Jones, 23, of Bastrop, La., were shot at Remington’s Hunt Club about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

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The three were in fair condition at Forrest General Hospital.

Coach Larry Fedora met Monday with the three.

Smith and Jones talked to him, but Green had to write his message because he can’t speak due to his injuries, which are “significant,” said Southern Miss president Dr. Martha Saunders. A hospital spokesman would not confirm or deny the injuries.

In a front-page article today, The Clarion Ledger’s Rick Cleveland said sources have told him that Smith’s spine is severed, Green’s vocal cords are severed, and Jones was shot in the chest.

Fedora on Monday would not give details, but said that Green could not speak. “I can’t tell you who is the worst,” he said. “Verbally, Tim can’t communicate right now, and the other two can.”