Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NATCHEZ — As law enforcement officials announced joint efforts to crack down on gun violence, one mother is questioning why the man who shot her son five times earlier this year has never been charged.

Sabrina Geraldson attended a press conference Thursday morning at City Hall wearing a white T-shirt with hand-written claims on it about her son William Rouse, who was shot in an incident on Walnut Street on May 31.

“A crime had been committed against my son and they were refusing to let us press charges,” Geraldson said. “I attended the press conference with the shirt and they decided not to open (the press conference) up to questions.”

Geraldson said she had arranged to meet with Mayor Dan Gibson and Natchez Police Chief Cal Green Thursday morning but was told their meeting was canceled because of the press conference. The meeting was rescheduled.

In the May incident, Rouse was shot five times by Hunter Craft — once in the hand while attempting to shield himself, in the left rear flank and back as he turned away from his shooter and twice in the rear lower body after he fell to the ground – during an incident at 412 Walnut St.

Rouse was treated in a Jackson hospital for these injuries. Craft also was shot in the incident.

Natchez police arrested Rouse’s friend Wesley Douglas on an aggravated assault charge for shooting Craft. Nearly a month later Rouse was also arrested for charges of simple assault; burglary of a dwelling whether armed or not, whether occupied or not; and contempt of court by failure to appear, according to police records. Craft was never charged in the incident, despite Rouse’s family attempting to press charges.

Natchez Police Commander Jerry Ford said after the shooting that Craft had been staying at the residence with a female and that the two had been in an altercation at the Walnut Street residence. During the altercation, the female reportedly called Rouse, who picked her up and later returned to the house with Douglas when shots were fired.

At the time, Ford released information that Douglas retrieved a gun from his vehicle and shot Craft.

“Initially we were going to arrest everyone involved but after further investigation, we found out that Craft lived in the house with the female who owned or rented it. (Municipal Judge Christina Daugherty) said he had a right to be there and would not sign a warrant,” Ford said Friday.

It can be argued that when Rouse and Douglas came back to the house, Craft was within his right to protect himself, Ford said.

“Rouse came through the door and (Craft) began shooting at him. Then Douglas fired into the house at Craft,” he said. “He had a right to defend himself at that particular time because that was his residence. He had clothing there.”

Geraldson claims her son had returned to the house to “check on things” because the woman who also lived there asked him to do so.

Ford said, “I don’t know whether she asked him to or not. Based on the videos of how aggressive they were when they came over there it was clear that something had already transpired. You don’t go in that way if you’re going in peacefully.”

District Attorney Tim Cotton said Friday, “The matter has been presented to a grand jury” which would determine whether there is probable cause to charge another individual in this case.  Cotton said the grand jury had been presented with evidence including text messages, recording of 911 calls, and video from the day of the incident, and is awaiting lab results before making any ruling.

Anyone with additional evidence would need to go through the proper channels so that evidence could be presented, Cotton said.  Cotton said no evidence of any threat made before the shooting had been given to him, despite claims that there had been threats posted on social media by Craft.

“They should go through the local law enforcement agency, present that information to them so it can properly be forwarded to us,” he said. “Charging somebody initially is not my decision to make.”

The shirt Geraldson wore to the press conference alleges a refusal to allow the family to press any charges as well as “$1,800 stolen by NPD,” which Geraldson said is cash that went missing from her son’s wallet. She said the wallet was found in the car as it was impounded at the police department.

The writing further alleged, “Crime Scene Contaminated,” and “Threat Made on Social Media,” minutes before the shooting.

“No ballistics test, no investigation of areas or angles the shots hit my son, nothing,” Geraldson said of the police’s efforts. Geraldson shared with The Natchez Democrat what appears to be a screenshot taken from Snapchat of guns and text that says “got enough shots fa yu” she said was posted by Craft. She also claimed that officials had not taken Rouse’s shirt into evidence.

Ford said he knew nothing about missing cash or about any threats made on social media by Craft.

Geraldson also said Rouse had lived in the house before Craft and still had belongings there.

“He provided funds for house expenses up until the incident,” she said.