Accused Oasis club shooter to enter plea

Published 9:07 pm Monday, August 6, 2018

A Natchez man charged with shooting one man to death and injuring six other people at the Oasis night club in November will go before a Lincoln County Circuit Court judge Aug. 13 to enter a plea.

Justin Devon Anderson, 23, will be formally arraigned in Judge David Strong’s court at 3 p.m.

Anderson surrendered to Brookhaven police Nov. 29, four days after he is suspected of killing Billy Ray Thomas at the Oasis Club on South First Street in Brookhaven in the early morning hours. A Lincoln County grand jury indicted Anderson on one count of first degree murder and six counts of aggravated assault.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Anderson is accused of shooting six other people at the Oasis — four men and two women.

Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins said the shooting, which happened shortly after midnight on Nov. 24, occurred during a private party at the club, which is located on the corner of South First and Martin streets.

Thomas died from his wounds at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

Club owner David Holloway told The Daily Leader shortly after the incident that he was shutting the party down when shots rang out.

Collins said the shooting may have stemmed from a verbal altercation inside the club that turned deadly.