Shooting suspect still on the run

Published 5:18 pm Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Vicksburg Police are continuing their search for Tony Dewayne Smoots, who is wanted in the April 19 shooting of a teenager in the parking lot of JP&K Foods Convenience Store, 2607 Halls Ferry Road.

Smoots, 20, 502 Farmer St., is wanted for questioning in the shooting of Jamario Hawkins, 18, who was wounded in the incident.

Police on April 22 arrested Darion Turner, 18, at his home at 1314 South St. He is charged with aggravated assault in the shooting and remains in the Warren County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.

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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. on April 19 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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