A third person pleaded guilty Tuesday in the 2021 slaying of a Tylertown man whose body was found in a car riddled with bullets on the side of a highway.
DeJohn Morgan, 19, 1054 Adams Road, McComb, pleaded to second-degree murder, drive-by shooting and conspiracy in connection with the Feb. 18, 2021, killing of DenJavis " DJ" Warren, 18.
Judge David H. Strong sentenced Morgan to 50 years, 13 suspended, with post-release supervision, a fine and restitution.
Walthall County sheriff’s deputies found Warren’s body in a car that had been shot multiple times on Highway 27 just south of the Magee’s Creek bridge.
Warren suffered a single gunshot wound to his torso.
Morgan had confessed to being one of the shooters in the drive-by after he was identified as a suspect and questioned at the sheriff’s office that same night, according to a criminal affidavit.
He identified Damarcus Oneal Smith, 608 Cedar St., Summit, as the second shooter in the incident. Smith was arrested two hours after Morgan.
Smith and another person, Tobresha Conerly of Tylertown, have already pleaded guilty to the same charges, Assistant District Attorney Brendon Adams said.
All three had initially been charged with first-degree murder.
Morgan’s guilty plea came as a jury was seated in his trial, which was expected to begin Tuesday.
"Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Warren family as they mourn the loss of their loved one from such a tragic event. May DJ's memory in some way be used to prevent senseless acts of violence like this in the future," Adams said in a statement.
“This case sends a strong message that violent crimes will not be tolerated in our community and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions,” Sheriff Kyle Breland added.
Timothy Jones prosecuted the case along with Adams. Wayne Dowdy defended Morgan.
