Laurel murder suspect in custody; shooting victim identified

LAUREL, Miss. (WDAM) - A woman accused of a fatal shooting at a Laurel convenience store is now in custody.

Nicole Weems, 36, was taken into custody on Poplar Drive at King Street by Laurel Police Department detectives after they got a call from a confidential informant.

According to the online jail report on the Jones County Sheriff’s Department website, Weems was booked into the Jones County Jail at 4:53 p.m. on one count of murder.

LPD Deputy Chief Earl Reed said the shooting happened around 11:40 p.m. Thursday outside the Scott and Pops Store on Ellisville Boulevard.

Reed said the incident is believed to have started as a domestic violence situation inside the store. The shooting happened outside, Reed said

At the scene, witnesses told police that there was an altercation inside the store before they heard shots fired.

The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and later died from his injuries at South Central Regional Medical Center.

Jones County Coroner Burl Hall identified the deceased as 54-year-old Terry Merrill of Laurel.

Hall said Merrill’s body will be sent to the Mississippi State Crime Lab on the Coast.

LPD identified the shooting suspect as Weems.

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