NATCHEZ — Natchez police could charge a suspect in custody as early as today in connection with the Tuesday shooting on Scotts Lane that left one Natchez man dead.

NPD Investigator Otis Mazique said police believe Carlos Wright, 23, 8 Scotts Lane, was gunned down in front of his house at approximately 11 p.m.

An officer, Mazique said, responded to a call from a West Stiers Lane resident Tuesday that two men were running through the resident’s backyard. He said while en route to the residence, the officer was flagged down as he passed Scotts Lane by a man who said his friend had been shot.

The officer saw another person, Mazique said, attempting to drag the victim into a car to take him to the hospital. The officer found Wright, who had no pulse, laying across the passenger seat of the car with his legs hanging out the door.

Metro Ambulance was dispatched to the scene and confirmed that Wright was dead.

Adams County Coroner James Lee said he arrived on the scene just after midnight and said Wright was shot at least four or five times in the back, abdomen and buttocks.

“Whoever shot him definitely wanted to make sure he was dead,” Lee said.

Mazique said officers recovered bullet casings from a .40 caliber handgun outside of Wright’s house.

Mazique said a trail of blood starting at the front of the house and ending at the side of the house indicates that Wright probably tried to flee the shooter by attempting to run to the back of the house.

Mazique said Wright’s friend reported that Wright called him after the shooting and asked him to take Wright to the hospital.

Wright’s murder is the second reported this year in Adams County and the first reported murder of the year in the city limits.

The five murders in 2011 more than doubled the average of the previous five years in Natchez. Lee said he hopes Tuesday’s murder will be the first and last of the year, and he hopes last year’s statistic does not double again this year.

“It’s horrible, terrible,” Lee said. “It’s totally uncalled for, and I hope it stops now, and last year does not repeat itself again this year.”

Mazique said the investigation is ongoing, and police are checking out a few leads in the case today. He said he believes if charges are not filed today, they will be later in the week.

Anyone with any information about the murder should call NPD at 601-445-5565 or Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000. Callers can remain anonymous.