Three charged with murder in connection with Sunday shooting

Published 12:08 am Tuesday, October 13, 2015

NATCHEZ — Adams County law enforcement officials are searching for a fourth suspect in what they have characterized as a drug-deal turned murder that included the non-fatal shooting of a pregnant woman.

Three people — Darryl Keith Hurts, 17, Chadrich Akeem Watson, 22, and Darnell D. Stevenson, 17 — have already been arrested and charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the incident.

All three are being detained at the Adams County Jail on $750,000 bonds.

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The fourth suspect — Kelsey Watson, 19, — is wanted on a warrant for one count of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched Sunday night to the scene of a wrecked Toyota Camry in the ditch of 31 King Circle, where they found victims Kimberly Singleton and Clifford Barnes in the vehicle.

Reports say Singleton told investigators she had been shot in the back. She was conscious — though in apparent pain — when deputies arrived. Singleton told deputies she is five months pregnant.

Barnes appeared unconscious and not breathing, with several bloody spots on his shirt that appeared to be gunshot wounds, sheriff’s deputies reported.

Adams County Coroner James Lee said Barnes was pronounced dead on the scene, with the official cause of death being multiple gunshot wounds.

“That was just a horrifying situation out there,” he said. “I am just at a loss of words; it was so horrifying.”

Natchez Police officials indicated the victim was transported to a Jackson-area hospital Saturday night.

An ACSO spokesperson said Monday evening Singleton was in stable condition.

Singleton allegedly told deputies the last person Barnes had called on his phone was the person they were meeting and when they arrived the suspects tried to rob the victims while wearing masks.

A news release from the ACSO Monday evening characterized the meeting as “an alleged drug deal gone awry.”

Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield did not respond to a message for direct comment Monday.