Shootings leave three injured|[3/14/05]

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 14, 2005

Five unrelated shootings in Vicksburg during the weekend left three people injured and three cars damaged. Two arrests had been made, and police said they were looking for several more suspects.

Also, a carjacking was reported on Indiana Avenue.

In a shooting Saturday night at the Super Shop at Bowmar Avenue and Drummond Street, the victim was identified as the owner, Prem Dhawan, 49, 317 Marian Lane.

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Seventeen-year-old James Reynolds, 1501 1/2 Military Ave., was arrested at 8:30 this morning in that shooting, and police Capt. Mark Culbertson said another suspect is sought.

Dhawan was treated and released from River Region Medical Center, spokesman Diane Gawronski said.

Reynolds, who faces charges of aggravated assault and armed robbery, was at the Vicksburg Police Department this morning. Bond had not been set.

Another shooting was reported Saturday morning at 1:49 in the street in front of the Elks Lounge, 916 Walnut St., Culbertson said.

A warrant has been issued for Leo Harris III, 26, no address available, Culbertson said. Harris is accused of shooting George Baker Jr., 27, 1212 Harrison St., in his upper left arm. Baker was taken to River Region in a private vehicle and was treated and released, officials said.

Baker told police that he and Harris argued as they left the Elks Lounge, and that escalated into the shooting.

Police asked that anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Harris call 601-636-2511.

A third shooting was reported Sunday morning at 2:06, Culbertson said.

Eric Wallace, no age or address available, surrendered to police at 8:45 this morning for shooting Derrick Turner in the parking lot of L.D.’s Lounge, 1111 Mulberry St.

Turner, 25, 305 Cairo Drive, was shot in the right forearm, Culbertson said. He was treated and released from River Region, Gawronski said. Turner’s car, a yellow 1993 Honda Accord, was also shot.

Turner told police that he and Wallace fought each other two or three weeks ago, Culbertson said.

Witnesses told police they heard several gunshots as people were leaving the just-closed club. Police found shell casings on Levee Street.

City officials shut down the privately owned Hill Top Lounge at 1515 Washington St., two days after an Aug. 2 shooting left one man dead.

The club was initially closed as a crime scene, and city officials later found code violations at the business.

Deputy Chief Richard O’Bannon said that L.D.’s Lounge does not have a history of complaints, unlike the Hill Top Lounge.

“Traditionally, he has kept everything running quietly, keeping his clientele in order. To say that we would seek an injunction, it’s too early to know,” O’Bannon said.

In the carjacking case, a driver stopped Sunday afternoon in the 3000 block of Indiana Avenue because his 2000 Mazda MPV minivan was making a strange noise, Culbertson said. While he was examining the car, a man approached him, armed with a handgun. The suspect forced the victim back in the car and drove him to First East Street, where the suspect forced him out of the minivan, then drove away. The victim reported the crime at 5:22 p.m. The minivan’s license plate is 779 WAK, Culbertson said.

Two other cars were shot this morning in separate cases, Culbertson said.

A police officer patrolling Cherry Street at 1:10 heard shots fired at The Smoke Break convenience store, 1215 Cherry St. The victim was inside the store when his 1999 Honda Accord was shot twice, once in the window and once in the right rear tire.

A second shooting was reported at 2:15. The victim said he was leaving the Exxon station at 1215 Mission 66 when he heard five or six gunshots. He drove to Waffle House at 4045 Clay St. When he got out of his 1993 Honda Accord, he saw a bullet hole just below the gas cap on the driver’s side, Culbertson said.