NATCHEZ — Troy A. Leake, 34, 7 Foxglen Circle, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the Dec. 21, 2014, fatal shooting of Orinthia Bailey, 37.

Leake was charged with murder and acting in concert with an unknown person.

Leake is the first arrest the NPD has made in connection with Bailey’s murder, which occurred near 2701 Itasca Drive.

“Between the hours of midnight and 1 a.m. on Dec. 21, we received a call that a black male was lying in the street, unconscious, with a possible gun shot wound,” NPD Detective Jerry Ford said.

Autopsy reports later showed that Bailey, who was pronounced dead on the scene, was shot once in the hip. Ford said investigators found a shell casing from a .45-caliber handgun near Bailey’s body.

Bailey lived in the area, Ford said, and could have been walking home when he was shot.

While investigating the case and interviewing several witnesses, Ford said he was led to Leake, whose car was at the scene during the time Bailey was shot.

Ford said he believes Leake did not act alone.

“We are still working on determining who the other suspect is,” Ford said. “And right now, we haven’t confirmed who actually pulled the trigger. We do know that Troy was at the scene of the murder, though, and he was involved in it.”

Ford said Bailey and Leake knew each other, but the extent of their relationship is unknown.

Leake is currently being held at the Natchez City Jail with no bond.

“The NPD will take any information someone may have in regards to this murder that will help bring others to justice,” Ford said.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call Crime Stopper at 601-442-5000.