NATCHEZ — Natchez police, with the help of Georgia police, have apprehended and charged the Vidalia man accused of shooting three people outside Club Paradise in February.

Natchez Lt. Craig Godbold said Rayshon Q. Hawkins, 25, 500 Sycamore St., fled to Henry County in Georgia after the shooting. Godbold said NPD contacted authorities in Henry County, who arrested Hawkins.

NPD picked up Hawkins in Georgia Wednesday and charged him with three counts of aggravated assault Thursday.

Hawkins was allegedly involved in a struggle with acquaintance Forest Williams, 20, of Vidalia, that escalated to gunfire outside of the club on East Franklin Street at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 26.

Williams reportedly told police Hawkins attempted to take the money Williams was holding in his hand for entrance into the club. The two men then started wrestling when Hawkins reportedly pulled out a gun and shot Williams in the left hip.

Williams was treated at Natchez Regional Medical Center and later released.

Natchez Police investigator Otis Mazique said the gun was fired at least four times. He said police recovered two 9-milimeter shell casings from the scene.

Mazique said Hawkins and Williams reportedly had ongoing problems.

The other two victims, Latoya Finley and Joseph Ivory, did not know Hawkins, Mazique said, and were inadvertently shot as they stood outside the club during the struggle.

Finley, 29, of Clayton, was reportedly struck in the armpit area and in the lower back. She was originally transported to Natchez Community Hospital from the scene and then taken for further treatment by an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter to a hospital in Jackson and later released.

Ivory of Natchez was treated at NRMC for a gunshot wound to the right leg and released the day of the incident.

Hawkins’ bond is set at $75,000 for the first count of aggravated assault, and he has no bond yet for the other two counts.

Hawkins is facing 30 years in jail, a fine of not more than $5,000 or both for each count.