Bond set on one suspect in weekend shooting; another still on the run

Published 9:03 am Wednesday, April 24, 2019

A judge on Wednesday set bond for a man charged in a drive-by shooting last weekend.

Municipal Judge Angela Carpenter set a $100,000 bond for Darion Turner at an initial appearance Wednesday morning in Municipal Court.

Turner is charged with drive-by shooting and aggravated assault in the reported Friday shooting of Jamario Hawkins, 18, in the parking lot of JP&K Foods Convenience Store, 2607 Halls Ferry Road.

Smoots

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Turner, who was arrested Monday, is accused of shooting Hawkins Friday night after a fight in the store parking lot.

Tony Dewayne Smoots, 20, 502 Farmer St., who is also wanted in the Friday shooting, remains at large, Vicksburg police Lt. Johnnie Edwards said.

Turner was out on bond after being indicted in August 2017 for aggravated assault involving a February 2017 incident in which he reportedly shot Hawkins in the ankle. Turner was 15 at the time and charged as an adult. Hawkins was 16.

Smoots was indicted in March on a charge of aggravated assault-extreme indifference in a June 2, 2018, shooting that occurred at the K&B Lounge off U.S. 80.

According to police reports, officers responding about 10:09 p.m. Friday to a call of a shooting at the store arrived to find Hawkins with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Hawkins first told police he was walking in the area of Bowmar Avenue and Halls Ferry Road when a gray Dodge Charger passed and gunshots came from the vehicle and struck him in the chest. He also told police he had gotten in an argument with some men earlier in the night but didn’t think they would come back for him.

Witnesses told police the argument between Hawkins and Turner became physical. Turner and Smoots reportedly returned to the Dodge Charger and sped off, and then several gunshots were fired from the vehicle. Hawkins was transported to Merit Health River Region, where he was listed in stable condition.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Smoots, should call crime stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477) or 1-866-481-8477; log on to www.centralmscrimestoppers.com/www.P3tips.com; or call Vicksburg Police at 601-636-2511.

Smoots is considered armed and dangerous.

 

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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