Fight over ice in Mississippi convenience store escalates into deadly shooting. Was the homicide justifiable?
Published 7:42 am Sunday, October 27, 2024
An apparent argument over a cup of ice inside a Mississippi convenience store Friday night escalated into a shooting that left one man dead and questions as to whether the shooting suspect will face charges.
The Natchez Democrat reports that Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten condemned the shooting as a “senseless act of violence.”
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at approximately 7:20 p.m., reporting a shooting at the Shell Station located at 787 U.S. 61 North in Washington. A deputy nearby was flagged down by a passing motorist who reported an active shooting at the station, Sheriff Patten said.
Upon arrival, deputies found one suspect seated near the gas pumps and took him into custody, seizing a semi-automatic firearm in the process. Inside the store, they discovered a man fatally wounded on the floor, later identified as James Keating.
A description of the incident from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office press release:
“The shooter had placed a cup of ice down while inside the store with other customers. The victim entered the store and retrieved a few drinks when he accidentally knocked the cup over. An argument ensued after the shooter implied he had a weapon but never pulled or pointed it at the victim. Keating then left the store and retrieved a handgun from his vehicle. Once he re-entered the store, he immediately confronted the shooter. The argument turned physical when Keating assaulted the shooter, and the shooter, in return, shot Keating multiple times.”
Patten said investigators have obtained a great deal of evidence, including video, audio, and witness statements, and everyone present at the time of the shooting has been cooperative, including the shooter.
Sheriff Patten has consulted with Sixth Circuit District Attorney Tim Cotton and has requested that the case be presented to the next Grand Jury to determine appropriate charges or assess whether the homicide was justifiable.
The sheriff has withheld the name of the suspected shooter, who is not currently in custody, pending further legal review.
