Pearl, LA: Man held in La. in Pearl shooting

January 24, 2010

Man held in La. in Pearl shooting

Police say suspect shot ex-girlfriend, killed her boyfriend

Nicklaus Lovelady
nicklaus.lovelady@jackson.gannett.com

A Tchula man was arrested in Louisiana early Saturday morning, about three hours after police said he shot his ex-girlfriend and killed her boyfriend inside a Pearl apartment.

Mack Watts Jr., 46, faces murder and aggravated assault charges.

The shooting occurred about 1 a.m. at Crosswind Apartments on Crosswind Drive.

"We got a call from a woman who said she was being taken to the hospital after being shot by her ex-boyfriend," Pearl Police Chief Ben Schuler said. "She also said the suspect was still at the apartment."

The woman was identified as 33-year-old Candice Garnett. Schuler said she was shot in the stomach.

When police arrived at Garnett's apartment, they found her boyfriend, Robert Lee Lindsey, 38, with three gunshot wounds to the chest, Schuler said.

Rankin County Coroner Jimmy Roberts pronounced Lindsey dead at the scene.

Schuler said police had a name and description of the suspect's vehicle, so an alert was issued.

Between 3 and 4 a.m., police in Louisiana spotted the 2005 Chevy Impala that Watts was driving headed west on I-20 near Bossier City. He was later arrested.

Schuler said Pearl investigators began interviewing Watts on Saturday. They now await an extradition hearing to bring him back to Pearl.

Garnett, who is recovering at University of Mississippi Medical Center after undergoing surgery, told police Watts kicked in the door before opening fire. She is in stable condition.

Schuler said Lindsey was visiting Garnett at the time.

"I think Watts just lost it in a jealous rage," Schuler said.

The homicide is the first in the city this year.