NATCHEZ — A 17-year-old girl was shot to death early Sunday morning in Natchez, officials said.

Police are investigating the death of Shakerria King, whose body officers found and transported to Merit Health Natchez ER, Adams County Coroner James Lee said. Lee pronounced King dead at 2:11 a.m. Sunday.

The fatal shooting happened at the Holiday Apartments on Old Washington Road.

Lee said the cause of death is most likely due to a gunshot wound to the upper chest. An autopsy has been requested and the body has been transported to the state crime lab in Jackson.

Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong said investigators and officers were still on scene Sunday morning and have made some headway on the investigation.

“Weapons and a vehicle have been found,” Armstrong said. “We have identified a person of interest. However, no one has been charged at this time.”

Armstrong said a male subject also was shot and was airlifted to a hospital outside of the Miss-Lou.

King is the second teen to have died from a shooting this month in Natchez, the other being 18-year-old Martez Brown who died after being shot July 8.

Lee said he is saddened.

“I’m really numbed right now,” Lee said. “I continue to see these kinds of cases month after month and it doesn’t seem to have an answer. God have mercy on these families and our community.”

Armstrong said these types of deaths need to stop.

“It’s disturbing,” Armstrong said. “It’s a trend that has swept this country when it relates to young people and weapons. These young people think the only way to settle an argument between one another is with weapons and that’s not the right answer.

“It’s senseless violence and there is no reason for it.”