Man killed in Valentine’s Day shooting

Published 11:57 am Monday, February 15, 2016

A Natchez man died late Sunday night after being shot inside a car on Homochitto Street.

Rayvon Corey, 20, was in the front passenger seat of a car while the backseat passenger, Melvin Watts Jr., 19, was allegedly playing with a .40 caliber handgun.

Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford said the gun Watts was holding went off. The bullet went through the front passenger seat, through Corey’s body, and through the car’s windshield.

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The driver and owner of the vehicle, Kadeem Conner, 17, drove directly to Merit Health Natchez around 9 p.m.

Corey was pronounced dead shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday in the emergency room.

Ford said police determined the firearm was stolen, and found other allegedly stolen weapons and marijuana in the car.

Watts will be arrested and charged with manslaughter and possession of a stolen firearm, Ford said.

Conner will be charged as an adult with possession of a stolen firearm and possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle.

The incident is still under investigation, Ford said, but is not believed at this time to be connected to other recent shootings.

Adams County Coroner James Lee, who knew the victim’s family, said the body was sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy.

“I’m without words tonight,” Lee said. “I pray for the healing that this family needs to survive this tragic incident.”