Shooting leaves teen dead

Published 11:46 pm Monday, August 6, 2007

NATCHEZ — A Sunday night shooting left a Natchez teen dead and another man injured.

Police believe an argument over a girlfriend or ex-girlfriend led to the shooting.

Kelvin Mitchell, 26, 642 Maple St., was charged early Monday with fatally shooting 19-year-old Timothy O’Neal in the head.

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Mitchell was also charged with aggravated assault after allegedly shooting Daniel Holt, 30, in the arm.

Mitchell, who had recently worked as a private security guard, allegedly shot the two men while they were driving along Maple Street, near Mitchell’s house, at roughly 11:20 p.m.

A team of specially trained Natchez Police officers and Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded, Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said.

“A witness at the scene advised they saw the suspect run into his house,” Mullins said. “(Responders) knocked on the door of the house but could get no response. They kicked the door in and could still get no response. Our special response team was activated. (After a search) they found he was not in the house.”

Patrol officers found Mitchell walking near the corner of Old Washington Road and Mascagni Avenue at roughly 3:15 a.m., Mullins said.

Mitchell was arrested without incident, Mullins said, and a revolver was found in his possession.

The three men apparently knew each other, and preliminary investigations suggest the incident was sparked by an argument over a girlfriend or ex-girlfriend, Mullins said.

O’Neal was dead at the scene, Adams County Coroner James Lee said. The cause of death was from a gunshot wound to the head, he said.

“It’s just a terrible tragedy,” Lee said. “It’s no fun to do any of these cases, but it’s especially hard when it involves a 19-year-old kid who had barely begun to live.”

Holt was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson in stable condition, Mullins said.

Mitchell was being held Monday afternoon in the city jail on a total bond of $115,000; $75,000 on the murder charge and $40,000 on the aggravated assault one.