Harrison County coroner identifies victim of Gulfport homicide
A Gulfport man has been identified as the victim of a homicide Monday outside O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store in the Orange Grove community.
Brent Mandel Jones Jr., 27, died of multiple gunshot wounds at the scene of the shooting off Dedeaux Road, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said. An autopsy is pending.
Gulfport police began a homicide investigation after responding to a call shortly before 9 a.m. about a man, since identified as Jones, shot to death in the parking lot of the store.
His white SUV parked outside the business had a shattered driver’s side window. His body was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
Gulfport Deputy Chief Craig Peterson told the Sun Herald the suspect, since identified as Demonte Levell Williams, and Jones got into an argument outside the front door of the store when Williams reportedly pulled out a gun and started shooting. The two men knew one another, police said.
Peterson said multiple shots were fired.
After the shooting, relatives and friends of Jones showed up at the store, many of them screaming out when they learned their loved one had died.
Police are searching Williams. He is wanted on a charge of first-degree murder and should be considered armed and dangerous.
Peterson said that at the time of the shooting, Williams was wearing a white tank top and dark shorts.
Anyone with information should call Gulfport police at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898
This story was originally published June 14, 2021 at 9:51 AM.
