Officers say a dispute over a cell phone led to the fatal shooting that killed a Mississippi 18-year-old and injured three others in Vicksburg Sunday night.

Tavon Cain, 18, of Vicksburg, was charged with first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault following a shooting that killed 18-year-old Korey Sims Jr. and injured three others.  Cain, of 30 Whipperwill Drive, appeared in Warren County Court on Tuesday, where Judge Marcie Southerland denied bond pending a hearing. The shooting occurred Sunday night at 118 Abraham Drive.

During the hearing, Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Chief of Investigations Lt. Stacy Rollison testified that deputies responded to a stolen vehicle report involving Cain at 7:50 p.m. Sunday. The vehicle and Cain were located at Whipperwill Drive. Cain’s parents indicated he took the car without permission because his cell phones were stolen earlier at Circle K.

At 9:35 p.m., a shots-fired call at Abraham Drive was reported, and an iPhone matching Cain’s was found damaged at the scene. Investigator Dusty Keyes attempted to verify Cain’s presence at Whipperwill during the shooting but discovered Cain had left due to threats on his life. His mother later admitted Cain left to confront someone about the stolen phone.

Cain used the “Find My iPhone” app to trace the phone to Abraham Drive. He voluntarily went to the sheriff’s office Monday at noon, requested an attorney, and was arrested. Rollison noted no shell casings were found at the shooting scene, but a .223 mm bullet from an AR-15 rifle was recovered. The injured victims, identified as Travis Malone, Kedavian Catchings, and Montreal Harris, were treated at local hospitals.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace stated the investigation is ongoing, but Cain is believed to be the sole shooter in the county’s second homicide of 2024.