NATCHEZ — Natchez Police have charged Brandon Christopher Collins, 22, with the Saturday night murder of Walter Washington, 25.

Chief Mike Mullins said investigators have been questioning Collins for several days since the murder outside the Natchez Mall.

He was formally charged at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“We were able to develop physical evidence and also eye witnesses and further witnesses,” Mullins said.

Collins’ address is listed as 104 Dumas Drive, the same residence that was reportedly the target of a drive-by shooting that occurred Sunday morning, a few hours after the murder.

Residents were not at home during drive-by shooting at 1:45 a.m., and no one was injured.

Natchez Police Department Investigator Lt. Craig Godbold said police believe Washington’s murder was intended as retaliation for the February shooting at Club Paradise of Calvin Matthews, for which Washington was charged.

Washington was indicted Aug. 9 for two aggravated assault charges related to the Club Paradise shooting and released from jail on a $75,000 bond.

Matthews was hospitalized for more than a week for two gunshot wounds to the chest, one to the lower torso and one to the leg.

Mullins said Washington’s murder suspect, Collins, was involved in Club Paradise shooting incident.

Mullins said police continue to investigate the murder of Washington and the related drive-by shooting at Collins’ residence.

“More arrests are possible,” Mullins said.

Saturday’s murder, Sunday’s drive-by shooting and the February shooting at Club Paradise are also related other shooting incidents that occurred in 2008, Godbold said.

Mullins said he couldn’t comment on Collins’ possible criminal record to avoid interfering with court proceedings of the murder case.

According to court records, Collins was indicted by a grand jury for aggravated assault and armed robbery acting in concert with others on April 8, 2011.

Court records said Collins pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced July 18 accordingly. In light of guilty plea and sentencing and per agreement with the defendant, the case was entered nolle prosequi and dismissed.