In a tragic turn of events on a Friday morning in Myrtle, Mississippi, 32-year-old Paul Baldwin Duke of Tupelo lost his life. The incident, which unfolded on December 17, 2021, began with an argument and escalated to a fatal shooting, prompting a murder investigation by the Union County Sheriff's Department.
Authorities were alerted to the situation when a woman, identified as 49-year-old Shanita Conner, called 911 at approximately 10:30 a.m. to report that she had shot someone.
Deputies were dispatched to a residence near the Sunshine Inn Assisted Living facility on Highway 178. Upon their arrival, they discovered Paul Baldwin Duke with a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency services transported him to The Med in Memphis for medical attention. Despite their efforts, Duke succumbed to his injuries later that day. In a final act of generosity, he was an organ donor.
The investigation suggests that the shooting stemmed from an altercation between Duke and Shanita Conner's husband, 31-year-old Jessie Lee Conner. According to the Union County Sheriff, Duke had arrived at the house and became involved in a dispute with Jessie Lee Conner. It is believed that Shanita Conner then shot Duke with a. 38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver.
Following the incident, Jessie Lee Conner fled the scene but was later apprehended by law enforcement on Beulah Road, near the Tippah County line. He was taken into custody on a pre-existing warrant for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Shanita Conner was arrested and charged with murder. In addition to the murder charge, she also faced a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
