Shooting suspect Smoots captured in Oklahoma

Published 4:33 pm Monday, July 1, 2019

A Vicksburg man wanted in connection with the April 19 shooting of a teenager in the parking lot of JP&K Foods Convenience Store, 2607 Halls Ferry Road, has been captured in Oklahoma.

Vicksburg police Lt. Johnnie Edwards said Tony Dewayne Smoots, 20, 502 Farmer St., was arrested Sunday by Oklahoma State Police on a Vicksburg warrant during a traffic stop in Comanche County, Oklahoma. He is being held in the Comanche County Jail pending extradition to Mississippi.

“As soon as he signs his waiver, we’ll make plans to go and get him,” Edwards said.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

Smoots is accused with Darion Turner, 18, 1314 South St., in the shooting of Jamario Hawkins, 18, who was wounded in the April 19 incident.

Turner is charged with aggravated assault in the shooting and remains in the Warren County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Smoots is charged in the warrant with aggravated assault. He 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 reports, officers responding about 10:09 p.m. on April 19 to 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 several gunshots were fired from the vehicle.

Hawkins was taken to Merit Health River Region, where he was treated for his wound.

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.

email author More by John