4 children safe, father charged with murder, victim identified after South MS shooting
Four children who had been missing for hours were found safe Thursday morning after their father was arrested in connection a shooting that killed one and injured another victim in St. Martin, authorities said.
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said authorities found the children safe at a relative’s home in Gautier.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department started a search for the missing children after responding to a shooting on Santa Fe Avenue at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Karis Hamilton, 24, was arrested in the neighborhood about 5 a.m. Thursday and is facing charges of murder and domestic violence aggravated assault, authorities said. Jail records show he is being held without bond.
Authorities said a “domestic fight” led to the shooting of two people at the home Wednesday night. Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. identified the victim as Devin McDaniel, 20. He died at the scene. The sheriff’s department said a woman was also shot and airlifted to a New Orleans hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Authorities had said they believed Hamilton took his four children around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and was gone when deputies arrived. By 6:45 a.m. Thursday, the sheriff’s department had found the children safe.
Authorities did not immediately release more details but asked anyone with information to call the sheriff’s department at 228-769-3063 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.
A prior assault conviction
Before his arrest in the Mississippi case, authorities in Texas arrested Hamilton in another domestic violence-related case involving a family member in Denton County, according to records obtained by the Sun Herald.
In that case, authorities say Hamilton was accused of assaulting a family member on Sept. 18, 2023. He later pleaded no contest to the offense, was subsequently given a 150-day suspended jail sentence, and was ordered to pay a total of $742 in court costs, fines, and fees.
Since then, Hamilton has made a $48 payment on fines, fees, and court costs. A judge had issued an order to revoke his sentence in that case.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 6:31 AM.
