Two arrests made in Oct. 1 shooting
Published 12:22 am Friday, October 20, 2017
Editor’s note: The following article about an arrest made in connection to multiple Oct. 1 shooting incidents incorrectly stated the reason for a suspect’s arrest. Kiandas Washington, 19, was arrested by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant from the Natchez Police Department for murder and four counts aggravated assault. Sheriff’s office deputies reportedly found Washington with a stolen weapon and charged him with possession of such. We regret the error, and we are happy to set the record straight.
NATCHEZ — Two more suspects were arrested Wednesday in connection to an Oct. 1 shooting spree that led to one man’s death and random shots being fired throughout the city.
Wednesday’s arrest marked the seventh and eighth suspects arrested in the case.
Adam’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Kiandas Washington, 19, on a Natchez Police Department warrant for murder and four counts aggravated assault.
ACSO arrested Washington on the warrant, reportedly also finding a stolen firearm in Washington’s possession. Washington was arraigned on the stolen weapon charge Thursday morning, but Justice Court Judge Patricia Dunmore chose not to set bond for Washington because of the “extenuating circumstances” of his pending murder charge.
Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong commended the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and its deputies for apprehending Washington.
Thursday, NPD also arrested Jadarrius McKnight, 18, on a charge of aggravated assault. Armstrong said officers saw McKnight at approximately 2 p.m. on Watkins Street. McKnight reportedly ran from police before an officer tracked McKnight down and detained him. Monday, U.S. Marshals and police in Cleveland, Tenn., arrested Harry Smith Jr., 19. The following day, Natchez police arrested Datarrius Terrell Matthews, 24, 14 Woodside Court. Each was charged with murder and five and four counts, respectively, of aggravated assault.
Two of the suspects that Armstrong has named remain at large: Stacy Woods II, 20, wanted for murder and five counts aggravated assault, and Harry Smith Sr., the father of Smith Jr., wanted for accessory after the fact to aggravated assault.
Armstrong, however, said Wednesday the department has identified even more individuals as potential suspects and more arrests are pending. Armstrong would not disclose the names of any additional suspects or persons of interest.
Including Woods and Smith Sr., Armstrong said a total of four suspects are at large.
“If anyone is harboring these criminals, they will be arrested as well,” Armstrong said.
The arrests stem from an Oct. 1 incident in which multiple men allegedly drove around town in a white pickup truck and randomly fired more than 130 shots from a high-powered assault rifle.
Armstrong said the individuals shot three vehicles, one of which was a 2006 Cadillac belonging to Richard Frazier. Police believe Frazier, who was killed by the gunfire, was targeted by the suspects charged in the murder.
Armstrong said those at large should be considered armed and dangerous and urged anyone with information that could aid in the investigation to contact the Natchez Police Department or Crime Stoppers.