NATCHEZ —Locals are gathering donations to fund funeral arrangements for a homeless man whose murder last week is still under investigation.

Investigators are still searching for suspects in the shooting of Mitchell “Dale” Brooks, 54, who was known to many people as “The Guitar Man” because he carried around his belongings in an acoustic guitar case, Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

“We are running down some leads,” Armstrong said. “We went out today and put out a lot of flyers in the county.”

Brooks is believed to have died of a single gunshot wound to the back. He was found lying injured on Gaile Avenue Wednesday and died at Merit Health Natchez later in the day.Armstrong said he believes suspected persons are still at large in the city, but investigators are unsure how many individuals may be involved.

“We don’t believe it was random,” Armstrong said.

Catholic Charities Case Manager Dorothy Sylvester said the organization is helping collect donations for Brooks’ cousin, and his only known relative in the area, to assist in paying for Brooks’ cremation arranged by West Gate Funeral Home.

Donations can be submitted to the Catholic Charities office located at 109 S. Union St. next to the St. Mary Basilica rectory, Sylvester said.

Checks should be made out to West Gate Funeral Home.