In the late hours of a Monday night in Natchez, Mississippi, the life of Anthony Haywood, a 30-year-old man, was tragically cut short. On June 20, 2016, Haywood was driving his car down St. Catherine Street when the sound of multiple gunshots pierced the night. His vehicle, riddled with bullets, ultimately crashed near the Brumfield Apartments. First responders arrived to a chaotic scene, with a crowd of onlookers gathering as law enforcement began to piece together what had happened.
An
investigation into the shooting was immediately launched by the Natchez Police Department and the Adams County Sheriff's Office. The Adams County Coroner, James Lee, later confirmed that Haywood had succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to his left side, torso, and face. Numerous evidence markers were placed on the street, indicating the location of spent bullet casings. Despite the public nature of the incident, with many people in the vicinity, the investigation was met with a wall of silence.
Months turned into a year, and still, no arrests were made in connection with Haywood's murder. His family grew increasingly frustrated with what they perceived as a lack of progress in the case. They took it upon themselves to try and find answers, even following a vehicle they suspected might have been involved. However, their efforts did not lead to a breakthrough. Authorities identified potential witnesses who were at the scene, but they remained uncooperative, possibly out of fear of retaliation. Security footage from nearby businesses was reviewed, but it did not capture the shooting itself. The case remains unsolved, leaving a grieving family and community still searching for justice for Anthony Haywood.
