Longview murder suspect out on bond

A Starkville man facing a murder charge in the shooting death of an Ackerman man was released on $100,000 bond from the Oktibbeha County Jail some time over the weekend.

Jail officials on Monday morning said 31-yearold James Dustin Nixon had been released, but could not comment on the date and time.

Nixon is charged with murder after 26-yearold Shawn Stricklin was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in a vehicle on Highway 12 near the Longview community on Saturday.

Nixon had an initial court appearance over the weekend and his next court date has not been set, according to Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain.

It is unclear at this time what prompted the incident as the investigation continues and authorities have not said if Nixon will face additional charges or if more arrests are possible.

Stricklin's body was sent to the state crime lab in Jackson for an autopsy.

Strain said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will compile a composite case file and submit it to District Attorney Scott Colom's office. The district attorney's office would then present to a grand jury for additional charges.

Colom told the Starkville Daily News on Monday that MBI had not turned anything over to his office from the investigation.

The incident is still under active investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.