Four Charged In Early Morning Drive-By Shooting

OAKLAND – Four people have been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that occurred on Spruce Street in Oakland in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 25.

According to Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch, deputies responded to the call at 4:26 a.m. after multiple rounds struck a house and two parked vehicles. No one was injured, but the home was occupied at the time of the shooting.

Deputies were on the scene within minutes and launched an investigation.  Sheriff Gooch said the shooting appears to be related to a domestic dispute between a girlfriend and boyfriend. Leads developed from security camera footage in the area and electronic messages helped deputies identify suspects and make arrests later that day.

With help from the Tallahatchie County Sheriff’s Department and Charleston Police Department, deputies first arrested two women in Charleston on July 25: Amber Dogan, 19, and Dakeia Smith, 19. Both were charged with drive-by shooting and shooting into a dwelling.

On Thursday, July 26, two more Charleston residents were arrested: Eric Hampton, 19, and Zamarion Daniels, 18. They face the same charges.

Gooch said investigators were able to gather incriminating text messages and threats sent to the victim, helping connect the suspects to the crime. Once the first arrests were made, deputies were able to learn of the involvement of the other two suspects.

Deputies remained on the scene until around 7 a.m. collecting evidence. Chief Deputy Thomas West reported that shell casings and projectiles were recovered at the scene.

“This was a dangerous situation, and we’re thankful no one was hurt,” Gooch added. “We also appreciate the help from Tallahatchie deputies and Charleston police, which allowed us to move swiftly and make arrests.”

Gooch also credited the county supervisors’ recent budget support for helping increase patrol coverage during early morning hours.

“Our nighttime deputies are on patrol until around 5 a.m., and that makes a difference. Having these deputies on duty improves our response time,” the sheriff added.

Prior to the funding increase, deputies’ shifts ended around 2 a.m. but remained on call for the rest of the night.

Recent Arrests

The Spruce Street drive-by is one of several incidents in recent weeks that have led to arrests by the sheriff’s department. Gooch provided the following summary:

• June 26 – Jerry Dogan was arrested during a traffic stop on Hwy. 7 near the Velma Fire Department for disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• June 23 – Amber Corkern was arrested near the Gums Crossing Bridge during a traffic stop on a warrant issued in Grenada.

• June 23 – Alfred Pipkin was arrested on County Road 35 near Enid for possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle and improper equipment.

• June 23 – James Arbuckle was arrested in Coffeeville on a local warrant.

• June 22 – Joshua Snider was arrested on Hwy. 32 for a warrant issued by Lafayette County.

• June 22 – Melayna Kimble was arrested at the intersection of Hwy. 51 and Hwy. 32 in Oakland for DUI (1st offense), disregarding a traffic device, and no driver’s license.

• June 18 – Charles Raymond was arrested on Hwy. 32 in Oakland for driving on the wrong side of the road and DUI.

• June 18 – Archie Rucker was arrested in Coffeeville for resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, and on a warrant for a previous resisting arrest charge.

“Rucker fled from a deputy during a traffic stop about a month before this arrest,” Gooch said. “The deputy was working alone and couldn’t pursue him because of other occupants in the vehicle.”
During the June 18 traffic stop, Rucker was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for a violation. He again fled on foot but was apprehended by Deputy Dalton Coleman with help from additional deputies.

• June 17 – Jacob Hopson was arrested on drug charges in Water Valley by a Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper after being pulled over for speeding. The dispatcher had received a report of a stolen vehicle an hour earlier and it had not been entered in the system yet. She recognized the vehicle while passing the traffic stop.

Hopson was also charged with taking of a motor vehicle.

• June 3 – Ashley Henderson was arrested for drug paraphernalia on County Road 80 in Coffeeville.

• June 3 – Jason Ayers was arrested on Hwy. 7 in Coffeeville for motor vehicle theft.

“Ayers allegedly stole a vehicle from Bell’s Service Station that someone had dropped off for repairs,” Chief Deputy Thomas West explained.

• June 2 – James Peacock was arrested in Water Valley on an outstanding warrant from Lafayette County.

• June 2 – Kira Savage was arrested in Water Valley for forgery after allegedly signing someone else’s name on a vehicle title.

• June 2 – Latoya Simpson was arrested on County Road 113 on a circuit court capias after being indicted by the grand jury.

• May 31 – Zaire Jones was arrested on County Road 211 near Oakland during a driver’s safety checkpoint. Charges included possession of marijuana, tampering with evidence, possession of paraphernalia, and no seat belt.

• May 31 – Abran Gibson was arrested for domestic violence on County Road 25 outside of Water Valley.

• May 30 – Zachary Beard was arrested for domestic violence on County Road 224 outside Water Valley. Beard was already out on bond at the time of the arrest for an earlier incident in May when he barricaded himself inside a house, Chief Deputy West said.

• May 29 – Jason Dye was arrested in Coffeeville for an outstanding warrant from Grenada.

• May 28 – James Anthony “Tony” Potts was arrested during a traffic stop on Hwy. 32 for a felony warrant issued in Lamar County for bad checks.

• May 26 – Garrett Coffey was arrested for commercial burglary and petit larceny. Coffey was renting a house on Hwy. 315 outside of Water Valley and allegedly stole items from a nearby storage building.

• May 25 – Andy Perry was arrested for DUI (first offense) and disregarding a traffic device. She was stopped after failing to halt at the Hwy. 7 and Wise Street intersection.

“The sheriff’s department has been assisting Water Valley police with patrols at this intersection due to traffic accidents,” Gooch reported.

• May 16 – John Watson was arrested in Panola County on a warrant issued by drug court.

• May 16 – Charles Lundeby was arrested for making terrorist threats after deputies responded to his residence for a welfare check.

Gooch reported Lundeby allegedly made threats to harm people attending a graduation event in a neighboring county.

• May 15 – Barry Spearman was arrested on Hwy. 7 in Coffeeville during a driver’s safety checkpoint.

Charges included possession of ecstasy, possession of a weapon by a felon, and statutory rape. Gooch said the statutory rape charge stemmed from an earlier county investigation.

• May 6 – Glenn Montez Williams Jr. was arrested at the MDOC office on Main Street in Water Valley on a felony warrant out of Tennessee for felony fleeing.

Mississippi Department of Corrections agents and a Yalobusha deputy attempted to take him into custody when Williams ran, leading to a physical struggle.

“He forcefully resisted three law enforcement officers in an intense struggle,” Chief Deputy West said.