A Crawford man has died after he was shot during what authorities described as a struggle over a weapon during a domestic dispute Thursday night.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant identified the victim as Willie Baptist, 62. According to a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office press release, Baptist and his son, identified only as a 41-year-old, had a “domestic altercation” at the son’s home on Starkville Road shortly before 9 p.m.
Witnesses told investigators Baptist fired a shot inside the house and that the two men began struggling over the gun, during which Baptist was shot, the press release said.
Investigators have not arrested the son and no charges have been filed at this time.
Baptist’s body will be taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Pearl for autopsy.
The results of LCSO’s investigation into the shooting will be presented to a grand jury in Lowndes County for “possible criminal charges,” the press release said.
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