In the quiet hours of an early Saturday morning in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the life of 21-year-old Keon Williams was tragically cut short. On July 1, 2023, Williams found himself at the Azalea Cove Apartments at 902 Blossom Lane, where a gathering in the parking lot turned into a scene of violence. Just after 2 a.m., gunfire erupted, shattering the peace of the night. When Warren County Sheriff's Deputies arrived at the scene following reports of shots fired, they discovered a chaotic and grim picture. Three individuals had been struck by bullets.
Keon Williams had sustained gunshot wounds to his head and leg. He was initially rushed to Merit Health River Region for immediate medical attention and subsequently airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, his injuries proved to be too severe, and he succumbed to them. His death was officially ruled a homicide by the Warren County Coroner, Doug Huskey. Alongside Williams, an 18-year-old female and an 18-year-old male were also wounded in the shooting, both suffering from gunshots to the leg. They were transported directly to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for treatment.
In the wake of the shooting, investigators from the Warren County Sheriff's Office launched a thorough investigation. They worked tirelessly through the night and into the following day, meticulously interviewing potential witnesses and reviewing security camera footage from various sources in an effort to piece together the events that led to the deadly shooting. Their efforts led to the identification and arrest of a teenage suspect.
On Wednesday, July 5, 2023, the 17-year-old suspect, De'Mario Mixon Jr., made his initial appearance in Warren County Justice Court, charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Keon Williams. In addition to the murder charge, Mixon also faced two counts of aggravated assault for the injuries sustained by the two other victims in the shooting. During the court proceedings, Judge James Jefferson set Mixon's bond at $1 million for the murder charge and $100,000 for each count of aggravated assault, bringing the total bond to $1.2 million. The case was then bound over to the Warren County Grand Jury for further consideration.
