In the early morning hours of February 7, 2018, the quiet of Sandy Hook, Mississippi, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 49-year-old LeJill Lewis, a Black female resident. At approximately 6:30 AM, Walthall County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a home on North Patten Road following a 911 call reporting a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Lewis with severe injuries.
Emergency medical services transported Lewis to Walthall General Hospital,
where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a suspect, JC James Jr., a 51-year-old from the nearby town of Tylertown. He was apprehended by sheriff's deputies and subsequently charged with first-degree murder. An additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was also brought against him, indicating a prior criminal record.
Following his arrest, JC James Jr. appeared before Justice Court Judge Ryan Bruhl on February 8, 2018. A bond was set at one million dollars. The Walthall County Sheriff's Department conducted a thorough investigation, sending physical evidence from the crime scene to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory for analysis. An autopsy was also ordered to be performed by the Mississippi medical examiner to officially determine the cause of death. While the initial legal proceedings against James were followed by the community, the final outcome of his trial is not detailed in the available online sources.
