Four now charged with murder in Hattiesburg shooting
Three more Hattiesburg men have been charged with murder in the Nov. 29 shooting death of Nathan Alexander, bringing to four the number of suspects charged with murder in his death.
Hattiesburg police on Friday arrested Jawan Rivera Davis, 22, and Geino Jermain Payne, 21, charging both with murder.
In addition, police upgraded 23-year-old Jamarcus Pettigrew's charge to murder from conspiracy to commit a felony and criminal street gang activity.
On Dec. 3, Brandon McNair, 27, of Hattiesburg, was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit street gang activity.
Alexander, 39, was shot and wounded Nov. 29 in a drive-by shooting on West Fourth Street and died later at Forrest General Hospital. He became the city's 12th homicide victim.
Since then, HPD has arrested 13 people in connection with the crime, most recently Doreion Dwayne Balam, 18, and Thomas H. Gordon, 26.
Balam was arrested Friday and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, criminal street gang activity and failure to comply/disorderly conduct.
Gordon was arrested Friday and charged with felony hindering prosecution/rendering criminal assistance.
Others who have been arrested and charged in connection with Alexander's death include:
•Anthony Crosby, 22, arrested Dec. 1 on conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to commit street gang activity
•Michael May, 20, arrested Dec. 1 on conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to commit street gang activity
•William Myers, 38, arrested Dec. 2 on conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to commit street gang activity
•Kadarius Nichols, 19, arrested Dec. 2 on conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to commit street gang activity
•Alice Poole, 19, arrested Dec. 2 on hindering prosecution
•Cedric F. Smith, 24, arrested Dec. 5 on conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to commit street gang activity
•Ladayle Strickland, 19, arrested Dec. 2 on conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to commit street gang activity.
HPD officials said the investigation was ongoing and that further arrests could be made.