NATCHEZ — A man was found dead in his car just past midnight Saturday after he reportedly attempted to flee a suspect who tried to rob him on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Catherine streets.

Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said police are investigating a possible murder suspect.

The suspected murderer reportedly shot the victim, Cedric M. Morgan, 30, 29 Frederick Circle, after Morgan refused the suspect’s demand to give him money.

“The driver accelerated trying to leave the scene, and the suspect fired a shot into the car striking the victim in the chest,” Mullins said.

The crime is the third murder in less than two months inside the city limits.

Mullins said Morgan drove approximately three blocks after he was shot before hitting a brick fence in the 300-block of Jefferson Street.

Police received a call about a vehicle crashing into the fence at 11:55 p.m. Friday, Mullins said.

Nearly at the same time police received the call about the car striking the fence, Morgan’s wife, who sat in the passenger seat during the incident, called NPD to report her husband had been shot, Mullins said.

Police found Morgan dead at the scene.

Mullins said the victim’s wife told police the couple was in their car in the Taste of Chicago parking lot when a man wearing a red hoodie demanded the money from her husband and pointed a gun at him.

Mullins said while police are aware of a possible suspect, no arrests have been made. Whether the suspect knew the victim remains under investigation, he said.

Mullins said Saturday evening police understand there were several people in the area who witnessed the incident, but no one has come forward.

Mullins said anyone with information about the murder should call NPD or Crime Stoppers at 601-442-500 for a cash reward. Anonymous tips will be accepted.

“We believe someone saw something and we need information,” Mullins said.