Covington County drive-by suspect arrested in Hattiesburg

PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – A suspect wanted for his involvement in a drive-by shooting in Covington County earlier this year has been arrested in Hattiesburg.

According to Covington County Sheriff Darrell Perkins, 27-year-old Eric “Lil Man” Barnes was arrested by the U.S. Marshall Task Force during a raid on his girlfriend’s apartment in the early morning hours Friday.

Barnes, of Collins, was involved in a shooting at another vehicle on Joe Booth Road in February. He was the sixth suspect authorities were looking for, as five others had already been arrested.

The Covington County Sheriff’s Office believed Barnes was in the Hattiesburg area, which led to his recent arrest.

Before his arrest Friday, Barnes was already free on $100,000 bail for another drive-by shooting on Interstate 59 in Jones County in October 2022, according to CCSO.

Updates will be added as more information becomes available.

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