Murder suspect in custody; captured in Houston

Published 12:04 am Thursday, July 16, 2015

NATCHEZ — A suspect in the June 19 fatal shooting of Jamarius Jackson, 20, is now in custody at the Natchez Police Department.

Lee R. Smith Jr., 18, 111 Crown Court was extradited Tuesday from a jail in Houston, Texas.

He was charged with murder, and no bond has been set.

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Natchez Detective Jerry Ford said Houston law enforcement officers located Smith during a traffic stop.

“They were holding him at the Chambers County Jail,” Ford said. “We had to go down and pick him up.”

Jackson joins his brother, Antonio K. Clay, 20, who was also charged with Jackson’s murder, which occurred at Holiday Apartments on Old Washington Road.

Jackson was shot twice, and later died that night at Merit Health Natchez.

According to investigators, Smith allegedly borrowed a vehicle from a friend, picked up Clay, and then drove to the apartment complex to resume a former disagreement with Jackson.

The brothers reportedly drove by Jackson, and then opened fire.

The victim then likewise allegedly grabbed a gun and returned fire at the brothers.

Ford said investigators were able to link the brothers to the crime by the dents — caused by Jackson’s gunshots — in the car Smith borrowed.

Clay turned himself in to Natchez Police a week after the murder.

Jackson’s death marks the second murder in Natchez this year.