Two shot in town

Published 12:26 am Monday, February 11, 2008

NATCHEZ — A pair of shootings on Sunday evening sent local law enforcement racing all over town.

The first shooting happened on Dumas Drive at approximately 4 p.m.

Natchez Police Sgt. Craig Godbold said Dwayne Young, 19, of Dumas Drive was shot once in the left upper thigh.

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The bullet continued with such force that it exited his inner thigh and passed through his right leg. Young was taken to Natchez Community Hospital.

Godbold said police have a suspect in that shooting and hope to make an arrest soon.

The second shooting happened at approximately 5 p.m. at the Cedarhurst Apartment complex.

Godbold said a group of men were reportedly playing dice when one of the men accidentally shot himself.

Gershin Mason, 18, was taken by ambulance to Natchez Regional Medical Center.

Witnesses told police Mason picked up the gun, apparently on the ground near the game, and accidentally shot himself in the jaw.

Shelia Letcher, who lives next door, said she heard the shooting. “I heard one shot,” she said. “And I saw that child laying there.”

Letcher said four to five men were running from the scene when she was calling the police.

Godbold said police recovered the weapon and taken two men to the station to take their statements.

“Right now everybody says it was accidental,” he said.