New details in the murder of USM football player come to light

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (WDAM) – Shortly after the shooting of University of Southern Mississippi football player MJ Daniels, four teenagers were arrested and charged as adults with capital crimes.

During a preliminary hearing Friday afternoon in Hattiesburg Municipal Court, prosecutors admitted they were in possession of the firearm used to kill Daniels on June 11 at the Ivy Row Apartments in Hattiesburg.

What prosecutors had before them on Friday was 16-year-old Nytavion Shaw, who admitted to fleeing that night. He said he never got out of the stolen vehicle he and three other suspects accused in the crime were driving that night.

Since the driver never left the car, Shaw asked for bail. He was denied bail a second time and was taken back to jail.

During Friday's hearing, investigators laid out a timeline of events that originally led to Shaw's arrest and indictment.

Sergeant Chadra Daniels of the Hattiesburg Police Department, who served as the lead investigator in the case, took the stand to explain the role prosecutors say Shaw played in the murder.

Prosecutors said they could link Shaw to the crime through surveillance footage.

On the night of the crime, HPD said video showed Shaw being dropped off at an apartment complex in Hattiesburg.

Investigators were able to track down the owner of the car Shaw exited, and the driver identified the person he dropped off as Nytavion Shaw.

Later that night, according to investigators, Shaw was seen on the same surveillance camera getting into a stolen white Acura with three other juveniles who were in the same complex as Shaw.

The other three teens were identified as Shaw's co-defendants: Orlando May, Allen Marcus Gardner and Samir Green. All three were also charged with capital crimes in connection with MJ Daniels' death.

According to police, May and Green, the first two teenagers arrested, said Shaw was with them that night.

Prosecutors say they arrested Shaw and determined that he not only knew about the plan to hijack MJ Daniels' car, but was also involved in it.

Chadra Daniels said Shaw admitted to being the driver of the getaway car the night of the crime, but did not leave the vehicle.

For this reason, Shaw's attorney asked the court to reconsider setting bail for the capital charge.

The judge rejected the request.

At May's hearing, police said two firearms were involved in the murder: a .38-caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol.

The revolver was seized when May and Green were arrested, but HPD said it was not the murder weapon.

In court on Friday, prosecutors said they had not found the suspected murder weapon

Investigators have not disclosed who pulled the trigger of the shot that killed MJ Daniels.

Three of the four youths have already appeared in court. A date for the fourth appearance has not yet been set.

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