No arrests have been made in a weekend shooting where 31 year old Bruce O’Bryant Dear was shot and later died in a vehicle fire across the road from the apartment complex where he lived. Investigators believe the intent was robbery. A 911 call was received at 12:23 a.m. Sunday morning at 340 Hwy. 511. When officers arrived on the scene they noticed a vehicle across from the apartment complex on fire.
“Mr. Dear was outside the vehicle when the suspects drove up,” said Sheriff Todd Kemp. “Once they (suspects) started firing shots, he (Dear) got into the vehicle and tried to leave the area.”
“Because of the high rate of acceleration, the vehicle drove into a clay embankment across from the complex and because of the dry brush in the area, we believe that is what ignited the fire of the vehicle.”
“When the officers arrived, they attempted to rescue the victim inside the vehicle but was unable to do so,” said Kemp. “The victim’s body was retracted and has been sent to Jackson for an autopsy.”
There are multiple suspects in the case and because of witness accounts; investigators know there is a driver and a shooter who fled the scene in a dark blue or black Pontiac GT.
“We urge anyone who has any information on this case to contact the Clarke Count Sheriff’s Department at 601-776-5252 or the Quitman Police Department at 601-776-6461,” said Sheriff Kemp.
