UPDATE: Wesson man charged with murder in Tuesday shooting

UPDATE:
Gable Lee Counts, charged with murder of Joseph Lee Mitchell of Wesson, was denied bond after his initial hearing in Copiah County Justice Court on Tuesday.  He will remain in the Copiah County Detention center while the investigation continues.

Copiah County Undersheriff Derrick Cupit has notified the Courier that 40 year old Gable Lee Counts of Wesson has been formally charged with the alleged murder of 43 year old Joseph Lee Mitchell, who was found down dead at his home on Tuesday afternoon.  Cupit said the murder weapon is believed to be a rifle.
“We are still investigating the incident and are attempting to determine a motive,” Cupit said on Wednesday morning, April 15.

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The Copiah County Sheriff’s Office investigatingan alleged homicide after a man’s body was found in a yard in rural Copiah County yesterday. 

Derrick Cupit, Undersheriff of Copiah County, said this morning that an individual came into the sheriff’s office Tuesday afternoon to notify authorities of a body lying in a yard at 4073 Barner Road a few miles northeast of Wesson, Miss.  Deputies were dispatched to the home and found the body around 3:30 p.m.  “The man died of an apparent gun shot wound to his chest,” Cupit said.  The sheriff’s department is not releasing the name of the victim, a Caucasian male, until his next of kin has been notified.

Cupit stated that a “person of interest” is in custody, but no charges have been filed, yet.  The name of that person, also, is not being released until further investigation, Cupit added.

“We are continuing to investigate to see what motive the shooter may have had, and also to contact the vicitim’s family,” Cupit added.  An update on the investigation will come as soon as any more information is available.