In the quiet woods near Pinecrest Circle in Jackson, Mississippi, a day of deer hunting turned into a tragedy that ended the life of 39-year-old William Douglas Wood. On January 16, 2023, Wood, an avid outdoorsman and father of two, was fatally shot multiple times in a senseless act of violence that was part of a larger, more sinister crime spree.
The investigation into Wood's death quickly pointed to a 15-year-old, Montravious Baker.
Authorities revealed that the tragic encounter occurred when Wood returned to his truck to find Baker burglarizing the vehicle. It is believed that a confrontation ensued, leading to the fatal shooting. A Smith & Wesson handgun stolen from Wood's truck was analyzed to determine if it was the murder weapon.
Baker's arrest on January 21, 2023, unraveled a shocking string of violent crimes that had plagued the Jackson area. He was not acting alone. His accomplices were identified as 20-year-old Tyrese Hodges and 18-year-old Khaliaya Williams, who allegedly served as the getaway driver. Their alleged crime spree included at least six armed robberies of businesses, targeting establishments like Dollar General stores, a Shell gas station, a Rally's, and a Popeyes, as well as two armed carjackings. One of the carjackings was particularly brazen, with a suspect putting a gun to the head of a seven-year-old child while forcing the grandmother from her car.
The web of violence attributed to Baker extended beyond the death of William Wood. He was also charged with the January 4, 2023, murder of 15-year-old Sha'Maya Anderson on Meadowlane Drive. In that case, it is alleged that Baker shot the teen once, and then, after she fell to the ground, fired seven more shots into her body.
In a court appearance following his arrest, a judge set Montravious Baker's bond at a staggering $11 million, reflecting the severity of the numerous charges against him. He faces two counts of capital murder, multiple counts of armed robbery of a business, armed carjacking, and auto burglary. His alleged accomplices, Hodges and Williams, also face multiple felony charges for their roles in the crime spree. The judge described Baker as one of the most dangerous defendants he had encountered in his time on the bench. The case against Montravious Baker and his accomplices is currently moving through the Hinds County judicial system.
