Nine indicted on murder charges from Oct. 1 shooting spree

Published 11:11 pm Saturday, September 1, 2018

 

NATCHEZ — Nine suspects have been indicted on charges of murder and four counts aggravated assault in connection to a shooting spree that occurred in the early morning hours Oct. 1, 2017, in Natchez.

Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong said more than 130 gunshots fired from a high-powered assault rifle on Oct. 1 appeared to have been random and killed 34-year-old Richard Frazier as he sat in his vehicle on West Stiers Lane.

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No other fatalities resulted from the shootings, Armstrong said.

“They went on a shooting spree — shooting randomly,” Armstrong said. “I’m just thankful that more people didn’t get hurt or killed.”

Investigators said at the time, the shootings occurred as a group of people rode throughout the city in a white pickup truck with an assault rifle.

Nine suspects have been arrested since the incident, four of who have been released on bonds while the other five remain in custody.

Suspects out on bond include Jermetrice Thomas, 21; Stacy Woods II, 21; Terrance Brown, 26, and Kendrick Thomas, 25.

Suspects who remain in custody as of Friday are Kiandas Washington, 20; Harry Smith Jr., 19; Datarrius Matthews, 24; Garrick Johnson, 28, and Cleophus Robinson Jr., 21.

Armstrong said all nine suspects have been indicted with the same charges of murder and four counts aggravated assault as of Thursday.

“Our investigators did a tremendous job working this case and getting these individuals arrested,” Armstrong said. “We’re looking forward to our day in court when we can put all of this behind us.”

Armstrong said all nine suspects have a bond reduction hearing on Sept. 6 and he could not release bond information at this time.