By GENE COLEMAN

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Three young men were shot in Natchez on Saturday sometime after 3 p.m., leaving one dead and two receiving treatment at Merit Health Natchez, said Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong.

Adams County Coroner James Lee pronounced Damion Green, 23, dead at the hospital at 3:35 p.m.

Lee said Green apparently died from a gunshot wound to the left, lower chest.

Armstrong said the three men were shot at three different locations, with Green’s shooting taking place at Maryland Heights apartments. The other shootings took place at Watts Avenue and Dumas Drive, Armstrong said.

One of the shooting victims was merely grazed by the bullet and was treated and released within approximately three hours, Armstrong said.

Armstrong also said the third victim was treated for what he believes was a non-life threatening injury and then transported to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

Armstrong said a car in which the suspect was riding was found burned off of Cemetery Road and investigators were searching Saturday evening for the suspect, who is believed to be the culprit for all three shootings.

Armstrong said he suspects the shootings are tied to another shooting that took place Oct. 1 in Natchez when several men were riding in the back of a pickup truck, shooting at random, leaving one dead.

Lee said that since becoming Adams County Coroner in 1999 he has seen shooting deaths increase in Natchez.

“For a town this small, it shouldn’t be,” Lee said. “It’s a sad day for everyone and we’ve got to do something to cut down on these shootings and murders.”

Armstrong encouraged anyone with information on the case to call the Natchez Police Department at 601-445-3554 or Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000.