Authorities continued searching this morning for four men believed to be involved in a Saturday night home invasion in Rolling Fork.

Four men entered Eric Williams’ home on Central Avenue and held his family hostage before apparently shooting him through the right eye, according to Sharkey County Coroner Angelia Eason in published reports Sunday.

Williams, 39, was found in the carport of his home. He was pronounced dead around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Investigators have said four men entered the victim’s home and assaulted Williams’ girlfriend. Three young children were inside at the time of the attack. They were not injured.

Williams’ girlfriend said that whoever killed Williams identified themselves as police when they came in the house.

Williams’ body was transported to Jackson for an autopsy, according to WLBT 3.

Former Louisiana sheriff pleads guilty

The former sheriff of East Carroll Parish could spend up to 10 years in federal prison for taking a convicted felon hunting.

Mark Wayne Shumate, 52, of Lake Providence, La., pleaded guilty Monday to aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley said in a press release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes set sentencing for July 7.

Shumate and a convicted felon went hunting Jan. 8, according to court records.

Shumate his hunting partner was barred from possessing and firing a firearm because of the companion’s status as a convicted felon, according to court records.

Shumate faces up to 10 years in prison, one to three years of supervised release

and a $250,000 fine for one count of aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a

firearm.

The FBI and ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph G. Jarzabek is prosecuting the case.

Shumate was sheriff of East Carroll Parish until 2011 when he was defeated by current Sheriff Wydette Williams.

Couple charged in auto theft

A Warren County couple accused of stealing a car from a casino last month were held without bail this morning.

Joshua Moore, 32, and Shirley Wooten, who share a home on Ballground Road, were arrested over the weekend and charged with auto theft, Vicksburg police Lt. Sandra Williams said.

Moore and Wooten are accused of stealing a 1994 Mazda from Riverwalk Casino on March 26, Williams said.

Both were held without bail this morning in the Warren County Jail.

Three held in tool theft

Three people accused of stealing and pawning tools were in jail this morning.

Steven Breedlove, 28, who lives on Beverly Drive, was arrested over the weekend and charged with grand larceny, Vicksburg police Lt. Sandra Williams said.

Breedlove is accused of stealing tools March 13 from a construction company and pawning the equipment at a local pawnshop.

Kimberly Chatman, 23, who lists the same address as Breedlove, and Amber Chatman, 20, who lives on Warriors Trail were charged with receiving stolen property in the same case, Williams said.

All three were held in the Issaquena County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 bail each.

Home damaged in fire

A home on Military Avenue was heavily damaged Wednesday when a fire sparked from barbecue grill spread.

At about 4 p.m. 2010 Military Ave., the home of Mary Thomas, whose age was not available caught fire after flames from a barbecue grill spread into leaves and damaged vinyl siding on the back of the home, Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Daniels said.

The fire spread into the attic of the home, which suffered extensive damage, he said.

No one was inside the home at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.