NATCHEZ — Four people have been arrested in connection to an early Sunday morning drive-by shooting that killed a pregnant teenager and her unborn child and injured another person.

Arrested are Montreal Rashawn Brown, 17, Curtavius Dantrell Knight, 19,  Carianta D. Allen, 17, and Nicholas J. McGrew, 21, all of Natchez.

Each is charged with aggravated assault, drive-by shooting and the murder of both 17-year-old Shakerria King and her unborn child.

Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong said an autopsy revealed that King was pregnant at the time of her murder.

Law enforcement officers worked around the clock to make the arrests, Armstrong said.

Early investigation, Armstrong said, reveals the crime may be in retaliation for the shooting death of Martez Brown who was killed July 8 in the 300 block of Dumas Drive, Natchez. Officers also believe Brown’s murder was retaliation for a May 2017 aggravated assault and shooting in which Brown was allegedly involved.

“It is a vicious cycle,” Armstrong said. “Young people, if they get offended, are not contacting the police like you and I would do, but instead are taking it on themselves, getting guns and going out and killing people.”

Armstrong urged parents to pay more attention to their children’s lives and to instruct them in the proper way to handle misunderstandings.

“This is a problem all over the country,” Armstrong said. “It is up to everyone to do their part, get involved with their families lives, get in their heads and minds, give them advice and instructions on how to deal with conflict. It is never good to respond to violence with violence. These young men face life in prison or possibly even death, and we plan to pursue the charges to fullest to see that justice is done.”

Armstrong commended his department’s officers for working diligently to make arrests so quickly in the case and commended the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for assisting in the case, sharing information and helping to make arrests.