Scarlet Pearl Casino Shooter Sought by Cops, Murder Suspect’s Car Set on Fire

Posted on: September 25, 2022, 11:51h. 

Last updated on: September 26, 2022, 02:35h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Mississippi police are hunting for two suspects in last week’s deadly shooting at the Scarlet Pearl Casino. A stolen car connected to the crime was located in nearby Alabama. It had been set ablaze.

Nicholaus Craig, 36, was fatally wounded early on Wednesday morning while in a rental car parked in a lot across from the D’Iberville, Miss. gaming venue. Craig and a girlfriend were staying at the casino hotel to celebrate his birthday, the report said. The couple ate dinner Tuesday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Later in the night, Craig left the hotel for a ride around 2 a.m, apparently after having back pain from recent surgery. While he was in the car, he was shot once.

Remains of Craig’s rental car, a dark blue Nissan Altima, were discovered later in the week at an apartment complex in Prichard, Ala. The car had been set on fire, destroying most of it, WXXV, a local TV station, reported. The car and suspects had been caught on tape by casino security around the time of the shooting.

Craig was from Mobile, Ala., and recently was living in California, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer told WCBI, a local TV station. He had stopped in Mississippi to visit his parents in Mobile.

Police Chief Speaks Out

An autopsy was performed on Thursday. Police have not revealed an official motive for the apparent murder.

A spokesperson for the Scarlet Pearl Casino further told WLOX, “Our thoughts are with the families impacted by this incident.”

No additional comments will be made by the casino until the D’Iberville Police Department completes its investigation. D’Iberville Police Chief Shannon Nobles made several public comments about the shooting.

“Right now, what we think is it’s a random act of violence and that this gentleman, the victim, was just minding his own business and appears to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Nobles told a local tv station. “It may be a botched robbery attempt or a botched carjacking attempt.”