07/29/2026
Suspects Arrested in July 4th Mass Shooting Investigation‼️‼️‼️
Multiple suspects in Centreville’s July 4th mass shooting are now in custody.
During the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 29, 2026, officers with the Louisiana State Police Fugitive Task Force and the Ascension Parish Sheriff Office arrested Kaden Anderson, 19, of Clinton, Louisiana, who was wanted by the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office for his alleged involvement in the mass shooting that left seven people injured and two others dead.
Also taken into custody were Zavier Augustine, Christian Johnson, and Zychavion VanNorman.
At the same time the arrests were being made in Louisiana, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Larry Smith, Jr. in Columbus OH, on a fugitive warrant for murder in connection with the mass shooting. Smith is being held pending extradition to Mississippi, where he will face felony charges.
The Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI), the Amite County Sheriff’s Office, and the Centreville Police Department, continues to actively investigate the shooting that occurred during the early morning hours of Saturday, July 4, 2026, near the Orchard Café on Highway 24 within the city limits of Centreville, Mississippi.
At approximately 12:55 a.m., Wilkinson County E-911 Dispatch received a call from Fields Health System reporting that multiple gunshot victims had arrived at the emergency department. Responding law enforcement officers determined that a total of nine (9) individuals suffering from gunshot wounds had been transported to the hospital by private vehicles.
As a result of the incident:
Two adult Black males succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced deceased.
Three victims were transported to an out-of-area trauma center for additional medical treatment.
Four victims were treated and later released.
Investigators with the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Amite County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and our other law enforcement partners have been working tirelessly around the clock to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
The Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Department remains committed to working alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. Through these partnerships, we continue to dedicate every available resource toward investigating violent crimes, holding offenders accountable, and protecting the citizens we proudly serve.
However, I want to emphasize an important reality: public safety is a shared responsibility. Regardless of who serves in leadership or how many officers are on duty, solving violent crimes becomes significantly more difficult when victims and witnesses are afraid to come forward. Law enforcement depends on the cooperation of the community to identify those responsible, make lawful arrests, and build strong cases for prosecution. When critical information goes unreported, those responsible for these horrific acts remain in our communities and may continue to endanger others.
We understand that fear is real, but we urge anyone with information to come forward and work with law enforcement. Every piece of information, no matter how small it may seem, can make a difference. Together, through trust, cooperation, and a shared commitment to justice, we can make Wilkinson County a safer place for everyone.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional arrests and charges are anticipated as investigators continue to pursue all leads.
