The suspect wanted in relation to a shooting that occurred during a disagreement, possibly over drugs, has been extradited to Pearl River County from New Orleans after being arrested in the Big Easy during a routine stop.
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Marc Ogden said that Gerald Keaton 21, who gave an address of 714 Magnolia Lane, was picked up by New Orleans law enforcement on March 15, who later found that the local sheriff’s department had a warrant out for his arrest on the offense of attempted murder.
Ogden said Keaton was extradited back to Pearl River County and booked into the Lenoir Rowell Correction Center in Millard Monday.
That warrant stemmed from an incident that occurred on Feb. 7, in the Nicholson community. According to previous coverage, Keaton and 22-year-old Kenneth Huber of 725 Cedar Avenue, went to the area of 31 Emmett Meitzler Road the morning of Feb. 7, to meet with 23-year-old Brandon Culpepper. During that meeting, the situation escalated and Culpepper was shot by Keaton, previous coverage states. Initial evidence collected in the subsequent investigation shows the shooting was possibly related to an attempt to purchase a controlled substance that went awry, previous Item coverage states.
Ogden said that the investigation is ongoing and expects to present the case to the grand jury.
Culpepper was shot in the head during the incident, and transported for medical care but has since made a full recovery, Ogden said.
Huber was arrested on Feb. 8 for the offense of accessory after the fact of attempted murder, but has since bonded out.
Ogden said Keaton is now officially charged with attempted murder.