Man wanted for shooting in Ocean Springs

Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a man considered armed and dangerous who shot another man during an altercation in what’s believed to be a drug deal gone bad.

Sheriff Mike Ezell says Sunday, April 8^th, the victim, Kevin Otts of Ocean Springs and his cousin met a 15-year-old boy in the parking lot of the Magnusen Hotel on Washington Avenue. Otts and his cousin left and returned to the parking lot a short time later where the sheriff says Otts and the juvenile argued.

When Otts and his cousin left again, the juvenile met Johnny Lee Levy, who was in his car in the hotel parking lot. The boy told Levy he’d just been robbed by Otts. The boy got in Levy’s car and they found Otts at a tobacco shop parking lot at Old Ft. Bayou Road and Washington Avenue.

Sheriff Ezell says Levy drove up parallel with the driver, pulled a gun and shot Otts once in the chest. Otts drove off, stopping in the Walmart parking lot where he called 911. Otts was taken to Ocean Springs Hospital and later airlifted to Oschner’s Hospital in New Orleans.

Levy took the juvenile back to the Magnusen Hotel after the shooting. The sheriff says he took off in an unknown direction, driving an older model Chevy Suburban. Investigators believe he is now driving either a white Nissan Altima or a red Dodge Charger.

If anyone sees Johnny Lee Levy, contact Investigator Robert Kline at 228-875-4195 or the investigations division at 228-769-3065.

The juvenile is in the Jackson County Youth court, charged with transfer of a controlled substance. The sheriff says he could be later charged as an adult as the investigation continues.