U.S. Marshals captured Chris Paten in Jackson who’s wanted for a March murder in Lafayette County

Published 10:48 am Wednesday, May 17, 2017

The search for the man local law enforcement officers say is responsible for shooting and killing a 31-year-old father of five in March has ended.

U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Chris Paten, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at a house in Jackson, according to Lafayette County Chief Investigator Alan Wilburn.

“They arrested him without incident and took him to the Hinds County Detention Center,” Wilburn said.

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Lafayette County deputies were en route this morning to Hinds County to bring Paten back to Oxford where he will be formally charged with the murder of Kenya Jawaan “KJ” Hill. According to reports, Paten shot Hill four times in the upper chest and head area after an argument broke out between him and Paten at a residence in the Brittany Estate apartment complex on March 9.

Hill was flown to the Regional One Medical Center in Memphis where he died a week later from his injuries.

Paten was originally charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon but now faces a murder charge.

Paten, who is also known as Chris Caine, was out on bail when the shooting occurred for an arrest in December 2015 on charges of armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. He was released on bond in April 2016 and was awaiting trial on those charges.

According to court records, Paten pulled a gun on a man during a dice game.

Hill, who has been described as someone who was “always an upbeat, friendly and outgoing man who loved his family and friends,” attended Oxford schools and Northwest Mississippi Community College. He left behind five daughters.