FERRIDAY — Ferriday Police Department officials returned from the Houston area Tuesday after retrieving a Natchez man suspected in a July slaying in Ferriday.

Zachary R. Clay, 23, 104 Dumas Drive, Natchez, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder, criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and seven counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.

Ferriday Police Chief Richard Madison said Clay is one of the suspects in the shooting death of Eric Johnson.

Clay was located during a routine traffic stop in the Houston area late last week.

Shortly after 1 a.m. July 15, a group of men Clay was allegedly part of opened fire on seven people leaving the AutoZone on E.E. Wallace Boulevard.

Johnson was part of the group leaving the business and was struck in the buttocks. He died of injuries associated with the shooting July 22.

A total of nine shots were fired during the altercation.

Four others — Moecke Hawkins, Raymond Fleming Sr., Bennie White and Latrevis K. Clay — have been arrested in connection with the Ferriday killing.

Clay and White are scheduled to appear today before the Seventh Judicial District Court in Concordia Parish.