Second arrested in murder case

Published 12:12 am Thursday, May 10, 2012

NATCHEZ — Natchez police have charged a second man in connection with the March shooting murder of a man outside a Scotts Lane residence.

Frederick Hunt Jr., 18, 381 Morgantown Road, was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder.

Natchez Lt. Craig Godbold said police have not determined Hunt’s role in the murder, but he said the investigation is ongoing.

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Hunt had fled to Biloxi, Godbold said, where he was apprehended by the Biloxi Police Department. Goldbold said NPD traveled to Biloxi to get Hunt.

Hunt is the second suspect charged in connection with the murder, and Godbold said more arrests could be made.

James C. Luster III, 21, 551 W. Stiers Lane, was charged with murder April 6 in connection with the shooting.

Godbold has said police believe Luster gunned down Carlos Wright, 23, 8 Scotts Lane, in front of Wright’s house at approximately 11 p.m. on March 6. Godbold said police believe Luster and Wright were acquaintances, and he said Luster might have attempted to rob Wright the night of the shooting.

NPD Investigator Otis Mazique has said an officer responded to a call from a West Stiers Lane resident the night of the murder. The caller said two men were running through the resident’s backyard. He said while the officer was en route to the residence, he was flagged down as he passed Scotts Lane by a man who said his friend had been shot.

The officer saw another person, Mazique said, attempting to drag the victim into a car to take him to the hospital. The officer found Wright, who had no pulse, laying across the passenger seat of the car with his legs hanging out the door.

Metro Ambulance was dispatched to the scene and confirmed that Wright was dead.

Adams County Coroner James Lee said he arrived on the scene just after midnight and said Wright was shot at least four or five times in the back, abdomen and buttocks.

“Whoever shot him definitely wanted to make sure he was dead,” Lee said.

Mazique said officers recovered bullet casings from a .40 caliber handgun outside of Wright’s house.

Mazique said a trail of blood starting at the front of the house and ending at the side of the house indicates that Wright probably tried to flee the shooter by attempting to run to the back of the house.

Mazique said Wright’s friend reported that Wright called him after the shooting and asked him to take Wright to the hospital.

Wright’s murder is one of three murders reported so far this year in Adams County.

Anyone with any information about the murder should call NPD at 601-445-5565 or Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000. Callers can remain anonymous.