Antwan Loftin, 26, is being charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of 36-year-old Johnny Reese of Bassfield.

According to investigators with the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Department, Loftin and Reese had a history of arguments and disagreements. The two ran into each other just outside of a barber shop on Washington Avenue in Bassfield Saturday evening.

An altercation ensued and Loftin shot Reese with a 12-guage shotgun. Reese was hit in the right shoulder. He was brought by a family member to Jefferson Davis Community Hospital at approximately 8 p.m. where he was pronounced deceased.

Along with evidence collected, law enforcement officers received a tip later that evening making Loftin the prime suspect. He was picked up and arrested at a residence off Morgan Lane and initially charged with murder.

After further investigation, the charge was downgraded to manslaughter  as officers believe there was no malice involved in the incident.

Justice Court Judge Ronald Barnes set Loftin’s bond at 300,000 Tuesday afternoon. He remains at in the Jefferson Davis County jail. The case will go before a Jefferson Davis County grand jury.

This is the first murder in Jefferson Davis County since 2021. According to Jefferson Davis County Sheriff Ron Strickland there were no murders in the year 2022.