Bond set for two men charged with murder
Published 6:03 pm Friday, July 7, 2006
Two Gulfport men charged with murder were being held in the Harrison County jail under $1 million bonds.
Thomas William Nelson, 29, and Austin Ryan Woodcock, 19, made their initial court appearance Wednesday after being charged in the shooting death of 23-year-old Christopher Ryan Braun of Pass Christian.
Sheriff George H. Payne Jr. said deputies were initially called to a car accident on Monday, but once on scene found Braun sitting in the driver’s seat of his car at an intersection with a gunshot wound to his chest.
Authorities believe the three men had fought before Braun was shot.
“It could have been the continuation of a fight or argument,” Payne said.
Braun was able to get into his vehicle and drive away, but was involved in the accident a short time later.
“He probably lost consciousness before he sideswiped one vehicle and hit another in the driver’s door,” Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said.
Investigators took several people into custody for interviews shortly after the crash.
Payne said Nelson turned himself in less than an hour after the shooting and deputies later arrested Woodcock.