On June 7, 2024, Artis Ski Ferguson, a Black male and operator of Ski’s Wrecker Service who also was associated with Clarksdale Public Utilities, was fatally wounded in a shooting described by authorities as a rampage. The shooting occurred in the early morning on James Washington Street in Friars Point, Coahoma County; another person was wounded and multiple vehicles in the area may have been witnesses.

Coahoma County Sheriff Mario Magsby Sr. publicly condemned the violence and investigators said they initially struggled to develop decisive leads. By mid-July 2024 no arrests had been announced and the Sheriff’s Office continued to ask Friars Point residents to come forward with information. Ferguson’s death has deeply affected friends, family, and the Clarksdale community.

If anyone in Friars Point or Clarksdale saw activity on James Washington Street that morning or has information about the shooting, please contact the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office.