On the evening of May 7, 2024, in Natchez, Louisiana, a burst of violence cut short the life of 44-year-old Jonathan T. “Debo” Howard. Deputies from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office were dispatched around 8:16 p.m. to the 100 block of Louisiana Highway 119 following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Howard lying in a ditch, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services transported him to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The investigation into Howard's death was swift. Detectives worked through the night, processing the crime scene, collecting evidence, and interviewing witnesses to identify a suspect who had fled. Their efforts quickly led them to 30-year-old Michael K. Wills of Natchez. Less than 24 hours after the shooting, on the morning of May 8, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
A coordinated effort between the Natchitoches SWAT team, sheriff's detectives, patrol deputies, and the Winn Parish K-9 Tracking Team led to Wills's apprehension at a residence on Old River Road. He was taken into custody without incident. During the execution of search warrants connected to the case, authorities seized three semi-automatic handguns. Wills, who was identified as a convicted felon, was subsequently booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. He faces charges of one count of Second Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, with other charges pending as the investigation continues. At the time of his arrest, no bond had been set.
