Teen dies in Hattiesburg shooting; police seek suspect

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi — A 17-year-old boy died after being shot Sunday evening at a residence in Hattiesburg, authorities said.

Officers with the Hattiesburg Police Department responded at about 7:56 p.m. April 12 to a reported shooting in the 900 block of Cypress Avenue, police said. When officers arrived they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest; he was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. The case is being investigated as a homicide, officials said.

Witnesses told investigators the suspect fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV immediately after the shooting, police said. Preliminary findings indicate the suspect and the victim are related, and detectives are actively working to identify the suspect and locate the vehicle involved.

Police asked anyone with information, including surveillance footage or details about the vehicle, to contact the Hattiesburg Police Department or Metro Crime Stoppers by dialing “TIPS,” officials said. Hattiesburg is a city in southern Mississippi. We will provide more information as it becomes available.