On February 8, 2018, the community of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was shaken by a violent incident that claimed the life of 30-year-old Jamie Montell Pittman. A White/Caucasian female residing in the nearby town of Petal, Pittman was discovered after authorities received a distress call requiring medical assistance. Officers from the Hattiesburg Police Department rushed to the scene located in the 200 block of Unetta Street, where they found Pittman suffering from a critical gunshot wound.
Emergency responders transported her to a local hospital, but despite medical intervention, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead, prompting officials to upgrade the case to a homicide investigation.
Detectives immediately began working to piece together the events leading up to the shooting, and their inquiries quickly narrowed down to specific individuals believed to be involved in the crime. The investigation moved swiftly, and within a short period, law enforcement announced that they had identified and apprehended two suspects in connection with Pittman's death. The initial findings suggested that the shooting was not a random act, and police were able to secure warrants based on the evidence collected at the scene and through witness statements.
The primary suspect identified by police was John Erskin Roberts Jr., a 31-year-old resident of Hattiesburg. Authorities took him into custody and charged him with first-degree murder, alleging that he was the individual directly responsible for inflicting the fatal injury. Alongside him, police also arrested 21-year-old Torriana Lechelle Wesley, also of Hattiesburg. She was charged with accessory after the fact, with investigators accusing her of aiding Roberts following the commission of the crime. Both individuals were processed into the legal system, where bonds were set as they awaited further judicial proceedings regarding their alleged roles in the tragedy.
