Teen gun play in Mississippi ends with one dead
Published 8:50 am Tuesday, March 26, 2019
A Mississippi teen who was accidentally shot last week died over the weekend.
Picayune Police Department Assistant Chief Dustin Moeller said that 18-year-old Lionel Lewis of Picayune died Saturday.
Lewis was said to have been shot accidentally the night of March 20.
Officers responded to Highland Community Hospital that night after being alerted by medical personnel that a young man, later identified as Lewis, had been taken by private vehicle to the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.
Investigation into the incident determined that 19-year-old Ahmad Lathen of Picayune, and Lewis, were playing with the firearm at Lathen’s home, located at 601 Richard St.
The firearm allegedly discharged accidentally, striking Lewis. After being taken to Highland Hospital by a witness of the incident, Lewis was later transferred by helicopter to University Medical Center in New Orleans.
Lathen was later arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, after a search of his house found a large amount of a substance suspected to be marijuana.
Moeller said that no additional arrests are planned at this time. He added that the incident is still under investigation.