Gulfport man found guilty of 2017 Long Beach murder

A Gulfport man is found guilty and convicted of a 2017 Long Beach murder.

Thirty-year-old James McDowell was charged with the shooting death of 25-year-old Deverick Johnson which happened in February 2017 on Lang Avenue in Long Beach.

During the four day trial, multiple witnesses identified McDowell as the person who shot the victim, Johnson, in the back of the head while Johnson was seated in the front passenger seat of his girlfriend’s car.

McDowell was arrested the next morning following a standoff at a house on Railroad Street in Gulfport.

Because of his habitual offender status, McDowell was sentenced to two life sentences without the possibility of parole.