Vicksburg Police Department crime scene technician Gevon Smith, left, and crime scene investigator Lt. Robert Donahue photograph and search for more evidence involving a shooting Tuesday morning in front of the Ernest Thomas Assoc. Realty building at 1209 Cherry St. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[07/24/01] Near a scene of repeated violence, a Vicksburg man was shot early Tuesday morning and remained in stable condition as police searched for the person who pulled the trigger.

Eddie M. Baker, 38, 727 Adams St., underwent surgery after being shot once in the stomach around 2:51 a.m. near Clay and Cherry streets.

Specifically, Baker was wounded outside the front of Ernest Thomas Realty on Cherry Street, Capt. Mark Culbertson of the Vicksburg Police Department said. The type of gun used was not known.

Culbertson said Baker apparently fought with someone in the area of the real estate building after leaving the convenience store next door.

“We found his hat and an unopened beer he had just purchased on the sidewalk,” he said.

With yellow crime scene tape roping off the area, investigators were still combing the area after 7 Tuesday morning.

Culbertson said after Baker was shot, he stumbled back to the door of The Smoke Break at Cherry and Clay and collapsed at the store’s entrance. “There was a trail of blood from where he was shot to the door of the store,” he said.

A customer at the 24-hour store saw Baker and flagged down Sgt. Jimmy Sweet, who was on patrol, and an unconscious Baker was taken to the ParkView Regional Medical Center, Culbertson said.

“We have questioned several individuals so far this morning,” Culbertson said.

Almost a month ago, another city man was shot in the parking lot of The Smoke Break after a fight began inside the store.

On June 28, Stephen Bailey, 31, 1206 China St., was shot once in the back. He was released from ParkView several days later.

Preston Lee Wilson, 27, 230 Fisher Ferry Road Apt. 47, was arrested about 30 minutes after Bailey was shot and charged with aggravated assault. He remains in the Warren County Jail.

Culbertson said anyone with information about the shooting Tuesday morning should contact the Vicksburg Police Department at 636-2511.