UPDATE April 3 from Laurel Police Department: Thomas McLaurin Jr. (21 years of age) who is currently housed in the Clarke County jail, faces charges there and will be transported to Laurel for his alleged role in the drive-by shooting at Rain Forest car wash in Laurel yesterday. Nijeal Nixon (19 years of age) who faces one count of drive-by shooting is currently housed in the Jones County jail. LPD Chief Tommy Cox and his department would like to thank the numerous agencies who assisted in the incident and in the capture of the suspects. Any persons with information about this or any other case are encouraged to call the LPD at 601-399-4440 or Crime Stoppers at 601-428-STOP.  

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(April 2, 2019) A local man accused of firing a number of gunshots into a Laurel car wash Tuesday has been arrested in Clarke County, after leading authorities on a hunt for him through at least three counties. 

According to Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson, Thomas McLaurin Jr., 21, of Bay Springs is accused in the alleged shooting that occurred at Rain Forest Car Wash located on Highway 15 North in Laurel.  Johnson said the shooting happened before noon.  McLaurin, after fleeing Jones County in a maroon Kia car, was eventually arrested later Tuesday at approximately 2 p.m. by the Mississippi Highway Patrol near the Clarke County and Jasper County line where he wrecked the car near CR 250 and CR 280 in Clarke County.    

“After he [McLaurin] left from the alleged shooting scene in Laurel, we were notified, and my guys and the Highway Patrol saw him in the Rose Hill area.  They chased him to where he got on I-59 South in Clarke County, and lost him for a while after he got off around Vossburg and Shubuta,” Johnson explained. 

“He was observed, at times by Clarke County deputies and MHP, going around 120 miles per hour during the chase.  He wrecked near the county line, and was taken into custody by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.”

Johnson said he was unsure at the time of an apparent motive in the shooting, and that no weapon was found in McLaurin’s vehicle.  It is believed he may have tossed the weapon soon after the shooting or during the chase. 

You may contact JCN Editor Heath Walley at news@jaspercountynews.net.