A murder in Bay St. Louis involved a former resident of Pearl River County.

The murder took place on July 18. At 8:46 p.m. officers with the Bay St. Louis Police Department were sent out to 4260 N. Nassau St. to check on a burglary call, according to a press release from the department.

When the officers arrived on scene they determined shots had been fired and found one victim dead.

The investigation shows that Michael Hudson Burks, 63, a former resident of Pearl River County, shot Gary Clifford Joiner, 42, with a shotgun. Joiner’s wife was present when the shooting occurred, the release states.

Burks was charged with murder and his bond was set at $20,000, which he posted at the police department, the release states.

In charge of the investigation is Lt. Don Watson with other officers assisting. The case is still under investigation and awaiting autopsy and crime lab reports.

According to Pearl River County voter registration records Burks registered to vote in 1981 under the address of 38 Virgil Lewis Rd., Carriere. He was listed as an inactive voter in this county in 2005 since he did not vote in the last two federal elections, the records state.