Metro Jackson shooting spree leaves 2 dead; man charged

A suspect is in custody, charged with murder, after two women were fatally shot in separate incidents in north Jackson and Ridgeland Thursday night.

Police say 22-year-old Zehulum Lael James, who was arrested at a south Jackson apartment complex on Rainey Road not long after the shootings, also shot at a JATRAN bus, another vehicle and into an occupied dwelling.

Hinds Co. Coroner Sharon Grisham Stewart confirmed that Suzanne Hogan, 58, was killed after being shot in the head in the parking lot of a Shell station at the corner of Watkins Drive and Beasley Road, said Jackson Police Department spokeswoman Colendula Green.

The other victim, Kristy Lynn Mitchell, 49, of Missouri, was shot as she walked from the Drury Inn to Logan's Roadhouse restaurant in Ridgeland, said Ridgeland Police Chief John Neal. The victim, shot in the abdomen, was transported to a hospital where she later died.

As the suspect fled the scene in Ridgeland, he hit a man in the parking lot outside the Drury Inn with his vehicle, authorities said. The man was not critically injured.

Friday, Ridgeland police charged James with Mitchell's murder. Ridgeland also charged him with aggravated assault.

Police said the suspect, described by witnesses at separate scenes as driving a blue Ford Mustang, also shot at a JATRAN bus, then into an occupied dwelling on Watkins Drive, then at another vehicle as he fled on Watkins Drive near Hanging Moss Road. No one was injured. James' vehicle has been taken to the crime lab for processing.

Authorities said there did not appear to be any connection between the victims, except that they were both white females in parking lots.

TIMELINE: (The timing of the fatal shooting at Logan's on County Line Road is unclear.)

5:49 PM: Shooting at a JATRAN bus near the 4300 block of Watkins Drive. No injuries.

Shooting at a JATRAN bus near the 4300 block of Watkins Drive. No injuries. 5:50 PM: Shooting into an occupied dwelling at 4322 Watkins Drive. No injuries.

Shooting into an occupied dwelling at 4322 Watkins Drive. No injuries. 5:57 PM: Precinct 3 officers respond to Shell Service Station at 5492 Watkins Drive. Victim is dead on scene.

Precinct 3 officers respond to Shell Service Station at 5492 Watkins Drive. Victim is dead on scene. 6:02 PM: Shooting into an occupied vehicle on Watkins Drive near Hanging Moss Road. No injuries.

Shooting into an occupied vehicle on Watkins Drive near Hanging Moss Road. No injuries. 7:14 PM: Precinct 1 officers respond to Briarcliff South Apartments at 3630 Rainey Road. James is arrested.

Jackson State University confirmed Friday that James is a junior civil engineering major at the school. He transferred to JSU from a community college in 2014.

Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow @TRex21 on Twitter.