Man shot in back of head

Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 30, 2009

NATCHEZ — Interference in a domestic violence incident by outsiders led to two gunshot wounds Tuesday night.

Natchez Police Sgt. Craig Godbold said Poucha Johnson, 19, 10 Lincoln St., and Chris Wimberly, 27, 1018 Martin’s Lane, were physically fighting Tuesday evening at Johnson’s Lincoln Street home.

Poucha’s mother Edna Johnson, 53, 10 Lincoln St., tried to interfere and Wimberly allegedly began beating her as well, Godbold said.

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Wimberly then reportedly left the house, and shortly after, Poucha’s father, Arthur Johnson Sr., 55, 106 E. Frankin St., and Poucha’s brother, Arthur Johnson Jr. came home to find Poucha and Edna injured.

The two men left the home looking for Wimberly.

“They found Chris down the street and Arthur Johnson Jr. got into a fistfight with Chris Wimberly,” Godbold said. “While fighting, some of Chris’s friends saw them fighting and pulled up.”

Simultaneously, Arthur Johnson Sr. tried to break up the fight between his son and Wimberly.

“When he stepped in, someone ran up behind him and shot him in the back of the head,” Godbold said.

The shooter then ran off down the street, but not before turning back around and firing five or six more shots at Arthur Johnson Sr.

A few streets away, Anthony Haywood, 23, was sitting at his grandmother’s house at 719 Smith St., and heard the gunshots.

He saw Arthur Johnson Sr. laying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the back of his head, and yelled into his grandmother’s house for his brother-in-law to throw him his gun.

“Anthony Haywood drops it, the gun goes off and he shoots himself in the ankle,” Godbold said.

Both Haywood and Arthur Johnson Sr. were sent to a local hospital, where Haywood was treated and Arthur Johnson Sr. was sent to the University Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment.

Godbold said Arthur Johnson Sr.’s wound did not appear to be life threatening, as he was walking and talking at the scene of the crime.

Wimberly was arrested and charged with domestic violence and is being detained at the Natchez city jail without bond.

“We’re still looking for the person who shot Arthur Johnson Sr. in the back of the head,” Godbold said.

When an arrest is made on the shooter, the charge will be aggravated assault.

Also, the gun Haywood allegedly shot himself with is missing, and police are currently searching for it.