An Ackerman man was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in a vehicle on Highway 12 Saturday, prompting a homicide investigation.
Oktibbeha County Deputy Coroner Billy Miller identified the deceased man as 26-year-old Shawn Stricklin.
According to Oktibbeha County Jail records, James Nixon has been booked and charged with murder. It is unclear at this time what prompted the incident and authorities as of Sunday morning have not said if Nixon will face additional charges or if more arrests are possible.
Stricklin was found dead around noon on Saturday in a vehicle located on Highway 12, near the Longview community in Oktibbeha County.
A person of interest, a white male, was taken into custody sometime after the shooting.
Communications Director for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Warren Strain said Mississippi Highway Patrol was initially called to the scene due to what was reported as a car wreck. He said once one of the troopers arrived at the scene, Stricklin's body was found.
Strain said Stricklin was dead when law enforcement arrived at the scene.
Mississippi Highway Patrol then turned over the homicide investigation to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Strain would not reveal more information about the individual in custody since the death is still under active investigation.
MBI was called in with the crime scene unit to investigate and process the vehicle.
This is a developing story,
(This article originally appeared in The Starkville Daily News, April 28, 2018 by staff writer Logan Kirkland)
