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NATCHEZ — A suspect in a Sunday, April 13, homicide in the Cloverdale area is in custody awaiting extradition to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Travis Patten said.

Devin Wheeler had been arrested in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, following the investigation of the death of 63-year-old William “Billy” Ray of Adams County.

“It has been a very long night working on this case that led our team in multiple directions but there is a murder suspect in custody with another agency at this time,” Patten said Thursday morning.

Devin Wheeler is the brother of Adam Cade Wheeler, who was being sought earlier for questioning about the incident. Wheeler later reported to ACSO and has not been charged with anything as it relates to this case and has been released, Patten said.

During the morning of Sunday, April 13, ACSO deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive person at 22 Hillcrest Drive in the Cloverdale area, where they were able to identify Ray as the victim of a shooting. Ray was pronounced dead at the scene.

Over the next 48 hours, investigators were able to acquire and analyze digital forensic data with the help of the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Unit.

Investigators assisted the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office with a search warrant at a residence in West Monroe, Louisiana, on Wednesday morning.

Devin Wheeler was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm for an incident that took place in Catahoula Parish on April 15. During a search of the residence, deputies located a loaded 9 mm pistol that was seized and will be sent for analysis.

On Thursday morning, ACSO obtained arrest warrants for Devin Wheeler for first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm.

Patten said that his Investigators are going to the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office and serving the arrest warrants, and then will wait for his extradition.

He said his investigators had very little evidence to go on at the crime scene but were able to secure arrest warrants within three days, which “is a testament to their abilities and dedication.”

“This would not have been possible without the help of the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office,” he said.