A Louisiana man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a Mississippi resident who was discovered unresponsive outside his home earlier this week.
Devin Wheeler was arrested in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, during an inquiry into the death of 63-year-old William “Billy” Ray of Adams County.
Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said Thursday morning that the case had taken investigators in various paths overnight, but it eventually led to the arrest of a suspect with a partner agency.
Ray was discovered early on Sunday morning, April 13, outside his home at 22 Hillcrest Drive in Cloverdale. Deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) responded to the call and discovered Ray dead on the scene from what looked to be a gunshot wound.
The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Unit assisted investigators in gathering and examining critical digital evidence over the next 48 hours. That evidence prompted a search of a residence in West Monroe, Louisiana, on Wednesday morning, in collaboration with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Wheeler was initially detained for being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with a separate incident on April 15 in Catahoula Parish. During the search, deputies discovered a loaded 9mm weapon, which they seized and sent for forensic analysis.
On Thursday, the ACSO acquired arrest warrants for Wheeler on charges of first-degree murder and unlawful firearm possession. Sheriff Patten stated that investigators traveled to Catahoula Parish to serve the warrants and begin the process of extraditing Wheeler to Mississippi.
Patten remarked that the investigation began with very little evidence at the crime scene; therefore, identifying and arresting a suspect within three days was a huge accomplishment for his team. He commended their abilities and dedication to the case.
Wheeler is the brother of Adam Cade Wheeler, who was previously wanted for questioning. Sheriff Patten confirmed that Adam Wheeler voluntarily came forward, underwent an interview, and left without facing any charges.
Patten also underlined the importance of inter-agency collaboration in resolving the case, citing the Concordia, Catahoula, and Pike County Sheriff’s Offices; the Mississippi Department of Corrections; and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office.
