On a tragic evening in Gulfport, Mississippi, 19-year-old Raymond Howze III’s life was cut short in a senseless act of violence. On January 10, 2015, the recent Long Beach High School graduate was leaving a convenience store when he was shot multiple times in the parking lot. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Raymond succumbed to his injuries the following day, on January 11, 2015.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to one individual, D'Juan Holloway.
It was determined that the motive for the attack was the theft of Howze's vehicle. Surveillance footage from the scene captured the brutal carjacking. Holloway was seen approaching Howze as he walked to his car and opening fire before stealing the vehicle and fleeing the scene.
A multi-state manhunt for Holloway ensued. He was located in New Mexico, where he was apprehended after a vehicle pursuit and an officer-involved shooting. Following his arrest, Holloway was extradited back to Mississippi to face charges for the murder of Raymond Howze III. The community, deeply saddened by the loss of a young man known for his involvement in St. John Catholic Church, closely followed the developments in the case.
D'Juan Holloway was charged with capital murder. In court, the prosecution described the crime as a 'cold-blooded murder for a car-jacking,' revealing that Howze was tragically a random victim, the first person to exit the convenience store. To avoid the death penalty, Holloway ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges. He was sentenced to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing a legal conclusion to a case that left a family and community mourning the loss of a promising young man.
