Investigation into a shooting that occurred just before noon on Tuesday in the Nicholson area has led to the arrest of one suspect and the issuance of a warrant for a second.
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Marc Ogden said 22-year-old Kenneth T. Huber of 725 Cedar Avenue in Picayune was arrested Wednesday for accessory after the fact of attempted murder. Also, a warrant has been issued for Gerald R. “Scrappy” Keaton, 20, for the offense of attempted murder. Ogden said Keaton is still at large. Keaton is described as a black male, standing five feet 10 inches and weighing 145 pounds.
The arrest stems from a shooting that occurred in the area of 31 Emmett Meitzler Road and was called in at 11:52 Tuesday morning. Emergency responders arrived to find the victim, 23-year-old Brandon Culpepper, who has an unknown address, had been shot multiple times. He was transported to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg for treatment. Ogden said he was last listed as being in stable condition.
So far, the investigation shows that the shooting was related to an attempt to purchase of marijuana that went awry and ended in the attempted murder of Culpepper by Keaton. Ogden said Huber was somehow involved in the incident, but could not elaborate further since the investigation is ongoing.
Ogden said the gun allegedly used in the shooting has been recovered.
Court records show that Huber’s bond was set at $100,000.
Anyone with information about Keaton’s whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 601-795-3050 or 601-795-2241.