A Vicksburg man charged with first degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault in a shooting that claimed the life of 18-year-old Korey Sims Jr. of Vicksburg Sunday night made his initial appearance in Warren County Court Tuesday morning.

Tavon Cain, 18, of 30 Whipperwill Drive, was denied bond by Judge Marcie Southerland until a bond hearing can be held. Cain stands accused of a shooting Sunday night at a residence at 118 Abraham Drive that killed Sims and sent three other people to the hospital.

During questioning by Warren County District Attorney Ricky Smith, Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Chief of Investigations Lt. Stacy Rollison testified that deputies first responded to an incident involving Cain at 7:50 p.m. Sunday, when a vehicle was reported stolen from 30 Whipperwill Drive. Rollison said, once deputies arrived on scene, the vehicle and Cain were at the Whipperwill location.

“The vehicle that had allegedly been taken was back on the scene, along with Tavon Cain,” Rollison said. “Contact was made with his parents and him, to which they advised he took the vehicle without authorization; however, it was because his cell phones had been stolen earlier at the Circle K.”

Rollison said the call of shots fired on Abraham Drive came into WCSO at 9:35 p.m. and an iPhone matching Cain’s earlier description was found partially destroyed on the scene.

“Investigator (Dusty) Keyes then proceeded to go back to Whipperwill to have a conversation with Mr. Cain, just to verify he had not left the residence at the time of the shooting,” Rollison said. “Once he arrived back at the residence, Mr. Cain had already left, at which time his mother told Investigator Keyes Cain had left because he was getting threats on his life.”

Rollison testified the next 12 hours were spent attempting to locate Cain at various Vicksburg hotels, before a call from his parents alerted investigators that he had returned to Whipperwill Drive.

Rollison said Cain’s mother initially told investigators he had not left the residence during the time of the shooting, but later changed her story, admitting he had been absent from the home during the time the shooting took place, “to confront an individual’s mother for taking his phone.”

Rollison said Cain appeared to have used the “Find My iPhone” app and tracked one of the missing cell phones to the location on Abraham Drive.

Rollison testified Cain voluntarily came to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office Monday at noon to be questioned, but requested an attorney and was subsequently placed under arrest.

Rollison said no shell casings were recovered from the scene of the shooting; however, one “perfect projectile” was found and identified as being a .223 millimeter bullet likely fired from an AR-15 rifle. She said three other individuals were treated for gunshots at area hospitals.

“One individual I know was shot in the foot,” she said. “The other individual I did not get a chance to see, but it is my understanding they were shot in the leg. The injured person I spoke to was shot. The round actually traveled through his chest, but went in front of the rib cage and shattered his arm.”

According to court records, Travis Malone, Kedavian Catchings and Montreal Harris have been identified as the three victims injured in Sunday’s shooting.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said the investigation remains open, but WCSO believes Cain to have been the lone shooter.

“Every investigator was involved with this, being led by Investigator Rollison,” Pace said. “This is our second homicide in 2024. It was just an all-out effort for about 30 hours straight. It’s tragic.”