In the quiet community of Baldwyn, Mississippi, the life of Judson Riley Morris, a 51-year-old male, was cut short in a tragic and violent incident. On the afternoon of Sunday, September 28, 2025, deputies from the Prentiss County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to a residence on County Road 5401 following a 911 call. Upon their arrival at approximately 2:12 p.m., they discovered Morris unresponsive, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
At the scene, law enforcement
detained two men and one woman for questioning as they began to piece together the events that led to Morris's untimely death. The investigation quickly pointed to a suspect, and an arrest was made. Hunter Van James, a 21-year-old resident of Baldwyn, was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting.
Following the initial investigation, James was formally charged with second-degree murder and the additional offense of shooting into a dwelling. A Justice Court Judge set his bond at $500,000. The case, led by investigators from the Prentiss County Sheriff's Department with assistance from the Assistant District Attorney and the Deputy Coroner, is slated to be presented to a Prentiss County grand jury for further action.
