In the summer of 2016, a violent encounter in Jackson, Mississippi, claimed the life of 30-year-old William Potts. On the late evening of June 25th, Potts was a passenger in a Lexus SUV with two other men, Bobby Potts and Paul Staples, near the intersection of University Boulevard and Cherry Street. Suddenly, a maroon vehicle carrying four men pulled alongside them and unleashed a barrage of gunfire into the SUV.
The driver of the Lexus, though injured himself, sped away from the scene, heading for the nearest hospital. All three occupants of the vehicle had been struck by the gunfire. William Potts and Bobby Potts both suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, while Paul Staples was hit in the foot. Despite the desperate rush for medical attention, William Potts succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. Bobby Potts was listed in stable condition, and Paul Staples was treated and released.
In the days that followed, the Jackson Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting. Their efforts led to the identification of four male suspects: Preston Lewis, Jeremy Lewis, Robby Lewis, and Corey Smith. Warrants were issued for their arrests on charges of one count of murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Law enforcement officials publicly appealed for any information regarding the whereabouts of the four named individuals. The motive for the shooting was not immediately disclosed as the investigation continued. There is no publicly available information that details the arrest or the outcome of the legal proceedings against the four suspects.
