VIDALIA — While Vidalia Police Department officers are still investigating the early Monday morning, territory-related triple shooting that left one dead and sent two men to the hospital, officials from the department said arrests are in the near future.

VPD Chief Investigator Randy Stockman said the investigation is ongoing, but officers believe they have identified the people responsible.

“We are still out interviewing people and tying all the incidents together, but we know who the players are in the shooting,” he said.

Stockman could not give an estimate on when the arrests would be made, but he did say there is one planned.

Original reports indicated that there were multiple suspects involved in the shooting, and Stockman confirmed those reports Friday evening.

Police were called to the 300 block of South Spruce Street just after 1 a.m. Monday.

Derrick Smith, 20, of Vidalia was shot one time in the left chest area. He was taken to Natchez Regional Medical Center by Metro Ambulance Service where he was later pronounced dead.

Lionell Dean, 26, of Vidalia was shot one time in the lower right chest area and is currently being treated at an area hospital.

Duntrell R. Washington, 27, of Vidalia was also struck one time in the right shoulder and was able to drive himself to an area hospital before police arrived on the scene.

Stockman said when officers first arrived at the scene, Smith was lying on the ground on Spruce Street. Dean was inside a nearby residence.

Eyewitness reports of the incident indicate that the shooting stemmed from a territory dispute among Vidalia residents from “uptown” and “downtown.”

It is unknown if the victims were armed.

VPD Public Information Officer Bruce Wiley said on Tuesday that the territory dispute is something the VPD has had to deal with since 2007, but it is not believed to be a major problem in the city.

“Uptown” Vidalia is on the north side of Carter Street, and reportedly ranges from the old courthouse to the river.

“Downtown” is on the south side of Carter Street, and reportedly extends from the police station on John Dale Drive to the riverfront.