The man accused of shooting an employee at Howard Industries in Laurel was denied bond in Jones County Court on Wednesday.
Purvis native Keith Hinton, 20, originally bonded out at $750,000 for charges of aggravated assault and attempted murder after shooting Dale Thornton, 57, outside of the plant on May 5.
Thornton was taken to a hospital for his injuries, but passed away on June 24. Jones County Corner Burl Hall confirmed Thompson’s death the next day, attributing his passing to the gunshot wounds he received last month.
Now, Hinton’s charges have been upgraded to murder, with Jones County Court Judge Wayne Thompson ordering no bond for the suspect.
According to police, no witnesses were at the scene when the incident occurred, but Howard Industries’ surveillance video was able to identify Hinton during the shooting. Officers later found clothing similar to those that the suspect was wearing while conducting a search warrant at Hinton’s home in Perkinston.
Prosecutors have stated in court that Hinton and Thornton did not have a connection prior to the shooting and that Hinton had no criminal record.
