A McComb teenager pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Pike CountyCircuit Court in the June 5 shooting death of his father.
Curtis McCray Jr., 16, 2085 Oakdale Road, was charged withmurder and felony pursuit after he allegedly shot his father,Curtis McCray Sr., 45, with a shotgun outside their home. Theteenager fled the scene and led authorities on a one-hour high-speedchase through three counties.
McCray pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughterlate Monday afternoon.
Pike County investigators said McCray shot his father in theleft side with a shotgun. The elder McCray died that evening atSouthwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center.
"The son walked up to his dad, who was sitting in a chairreading a newspaper in the front yard, and allegedly shot himwith a shotgun and left in a 1988 Pontiac Bonneville," chiefsheriff's investigator Davis Haygood said shortly after thearrest.
McCray also allegedly used the gun to threaten his mother,Gloria, before leading police on a chase through three counties.
Officials said McCray reportedly became enraged when his parentsreturned home that afternoon eating sno-balls and did not bringone for him. He earlier had been punished for taking the familycar without permission.
Pike County, Magnolia and Mississippi Highway Patrol lawmenchased McCray from Magnolia into Walthall and Marion counties.McCray's ride ended when officers placed tire deflation stopsticks on Highway 35 in Columbia, causing his vehicle to run offthe road. Officers then arrested him.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Byrd said this morning thatthe DA's office is recommending the maximum 20-year sentence,with two years suspended. Judge Mike Taylor is set to sentenceMcCray on Monday.
Byrd said the DA's office believes the reduction to manslaughtercharges was the best decision in McCray's case. A murderconviction carries life in prison.
"Our office is concerned with the problem of the (murder)statute and the way it's written," Byrd said. "Withmurder, there is no choice in sentencing. The judge is not ableto take into consideration his past or anything regarding thecharacter or possible rehabilitation."
Byrd acknowledged "the horrible, heinous crime" andsaid that after discussing the case with law enforcement officersand the victim's family, "we felt the 18 years was morejust."
The suspended sentence allows for more years of post-releasesupervision to monitor McCray's activity after being releasedfrom prison. Byrd said McCray had never been in any reported troubleand was an intelligent, quiet young man.
Public defender Paul Luckett is representing McCray.
