Judge sets $10 million bond for teen suspect in fatal drive by shooting

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Latavious Betts was escorted into Lee County Justice Court, shackled and cuffed, for his initial appearance.  

Betts was arrested Friday evening at a home on North Green Street in Tupelo, seven days after authorities say he was the trigger man in a drive by shooting in Palmetto. 

Annie Walton, 66, was killed, and several others injured in what authorities and the victim’s family say was a drug related shooting. 

“I can assure you we have the right shooter,” said Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson.  

During the brief initial appearance,  Sheriff Jim Johnson told Judge Chuck Hopkins that Betts was also the suspect in a fatal drive by shooting last April in Verona.  In that case, Betts was released by the Verona Police, on a signature bond.  

The teen is also charged with another shooting this past summer and was out of jail on a $50,000 bond in that case.  

After hearing the charges and deeming him a menace to society, Judge Hopkins set a $10 million bond for Betts. 

“Shy of the court intervening and doing something out of character, there’s no way this guy is going to get out,” said Sheriff Johnson. 

In fact, paperwork has been filed with District Attorney John Weddle to hold Betts without bond on charges filed by the Lee County Sheriff’s Department.  Johnson says Betts may be 17, but the charges he’s facing allow the courts to view Betts as an adult. 

“I realize and I sympathize with the general public of him being a 17 year , but he’s a danger, he’s a threat to this community, said Sheriff Johnson. “I don’t look at him as a 17-year-old child, I look at him as an individual that has committed two murders in our county and that’s the way he will be treated.”

The Grand Jury will hear Betts’ case in March.  

The U S Marshal’s Service, along with the Tupelo Police assisted in the arrest of Betts.  Sheriff Johnson says more arrests are possible in the case.