On January 12, D’lberville Police Department arrested two individuals and charged them with First Degree Murder.

According to Chief Shannon Nobles, warrants were issued for 19-year-old Darrius Dewayne Rowser Jr. from Mobile, Alabama and 18-year-old Karmelo Cortez Morris Derks from Pritchard Alabama.

Chief Nobles said that on September 21, 2022, around 1:15 a.m., officers responded to the North parking lot of the Scarlet Pearl Casino after receiving a call about gunshots.

They found 36-year-old Nicholaus Lavon Craig from California sitting in his silver Dodge Challenger with a gunshot wound.

Life-saving measures were attempted to save him, but he died from his injuries.

Detectives reviewed surveillance video in the area and identified a suspect vehicle and the suspect’s description and distributed it to the public and local media outlets.

The suspected vehicle used was identified as a Nissan Altima, which was stolen from Pritchard, Alabama on September 14, 2022.

Police found the vehicle burned at an apartment complex in Pritchard a day after the release.

Chief Nobles said,

“Throughout this four month investigation, the Detective’s hard work, long hours, and pure tenacity to see this investigation to a successful conclusion is nothing but commendable.”

With the help of multiple other agencies including Gulfport Field Office of the FBI, Mobile Police Departments Intelligence Unit and Homicide Unit, Pritchard Alabama Police Department, Gulf Coasts Digital Forensics Lab, and the Harrison

County Districts Attorney’s Office, Detectives were able to identify defendants Darrius Dewayne Rowser Jr. and Karmelo Cortez Morris Derks as the people responsible for the death of Nicholaus Craig.

The motive for this crime appears to be random and a robbery attempt.