MS woman shot. Found dead in car after accident. Her husband said he was involved. The newest

A Columbia man was charged with first-degree murder and other charges after his wife was found dead in a vehicle that crashed into a building in Hattiesburg.

The incident happened around 10am on Saturday at Park Place. Officers arrived on scene and found the 36-year-old Zikoya Johnson of Foxworth died of an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen, Hattiesburg police spokesman Tate Rutland said in an email.

Her husband, 50-year-old Kenrod Cartez Echols, contacted police shortly afterward and told them he played a role in his wife’s death.

In addition to murder, Echols was charged with tampering with evidence, tampering with witnesses and malicious mischief. He was booked into the Forrest County Jail where he awaits an initial court appearance.

Johnson’s body was sent to the state crime lab in Biloxi for an autopsy, Lamar County Coroner Blake Matherne said. No one else was injured in the wreck.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her further X @licibev or Facebook bee facebook.com/liciveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Man shoots woman who dies in car crash in Hattiesburg MS