Natchez — Police have identified the shooter in the Aug. 27 murder of Walter Washington outside the Natchez Mall.

Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said evidence points to Lee Raymond Smith Jr., 18, of Beaumont, Texas. Mullins said police do not know the whereabouts of Smith.

Mullins said murder charges against Datarrius T. Matthews, 18, 14 Woodside Court, and Latravis K. Clay, 21, 104 Dumas Drive Apt. A, were reduced to accessory after the fact to murder after a preliminary hearing Tuesday. The bond for both men is set at $65,000 each.

Matthews, Clay and 22-year-old Brandon Christopher Collins were all originally arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting. The charges were reduced to accessory after the fact to murder for Collins as well.

Mullins said evidence shows that Matthews and Clay were in the vehicle with Smith when he reportedly shot Washington, who sat in a separate vehicle in the mall parking lot.

Mullins said police are still determining if Collins was at the scene or assisted the shooter after the murder.

Natchez Police Department Investigator Lt. Craig Godbold has said police believe Washington’s murder was intended as retaliation for the February shooting at Club Paradise of Calvin Matthews, for which Washington was charged.

Collins’ address is listed as 104 Dumas Drive, which was the same residence that was reportedly the target of a drive-by shooting that occurred on the morning of Aug. 28, a few hours after the murder.

Anyone with information about the murder or Smith’s whereabouts should call the Natchez Police Department at 601-445-5565 or Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000.