In the spring of 2023, the life of 19-year-old Devin Jamal Winchester was cut tragically short. A graduate of Natchez High School in 2021 and Copiah-Lincoln Community College in 2023, Devin was known to enjoy sports, video games, and traveling. He was employed at Dirt Cheap and was of the Baptist faith.
On the night of May 5, 2023, a mass shooting occurred in the parking lot of a strip mall on D'Evereux Drive in Natchez.
The shooting, which took place behind a Popeye's restaurant and in front of a Cash Savers supermarket, resulted in the death of Devin Winchester and 19-year-old Travione Jones. Three other individuals were also wounded in the attack. Investigators believe the shooters used an assault-type weapon, firing numerous shots from a vehicle. Police recovered dozens of shell casings from the scene. According to Natchez Police Commander Jerry Ford, it is believed that Winchester was not the intended target but was tragically 'with the wrong company at the wrong time.' The motive for the shooting is thought to be an ongoing dispute, with Travione Jones as the likely primary target.
In the wake of the deadly shooting, law enforcement officials began an investigation that led to several arrests. On May 9, 2023, police apprehended 25-year-old Kadeem Conner and 32-year-old Mark Jordan Mitchell, both from Natchez. They were each charged with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. A warrant for the same charges was also issued for 22-year-old Jamionte Davis, who was believed to have fled the state.
The investigation continued to unfold, leading to more arrests in the following months. On June 14, 2023, 28-year-old Douglas Mazique of Natchez was taken into custody and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Later, on August 26, 2023, a fifth suspect, 37-year-old Carl Evans, was arrested and also charged with conspiracy to commit murder and grand larceny. U.S. Marshals eventually captured Jamionte Davis on April 29, 2024. Davis was also wanted in connection with a separate 2018 attempted murder case.
