Ray J. Armstrong was 30 and lived in Petal, Mississippi, with close family ties to parents Ray and Judy Armstrong and his wife, Amanda Lower Armstrong of Purvis. Shortly before dawn on April 7, 2017, gunfire inside a home at 200 Sherrill Street ended his life. Officers arriving on scene found a wounded man and an elderly relative; the wounded man, identified as Ray by police and the Forrest County coroner, was taken to Forrest General Hospital but died a short time later of multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities described the shooting as domestic in nature. The alleged shooter was identified as 75-year-old Raymond Eugene Armstrong, described as Ray’s adopted grandfather, who was taken into custody at the scene and later transported to the county jail. He was charged and made an initial appearance in Petal Municipal Court, where bond was set at $100,000.

Ray’s obituary and memorial services in mid-April 2017 drew family from several states and spoke to the personal loss felt by relatives and friends. If anyone knew Ray or has information about what happened that night, please share what is known.