The Gazebo Gazette
GULFPORT (GG) — On Thursday, February 6, 2025 Erick Hunt from Jackson, Miss., and Richard Norman III, age 32 of Gulfport, Miss., were sentenced today for the homicide of Anthony Oatis and the armed robbery of Garrett White. A Harrison County jury convicted Hunt and Norman of first-degree murder and armed robbery two weeks ago and sentencing was deferred until today.
Their co-Defendant, Eric Chopin had previously pled guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery, and his sentencing is set at a later date. Senior Circuit Court Judge Lisa Dodson sentenced Hunt and Norman both to Life sentences in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with an additional Twenty (20) years each.
During the 4-day trial, the jury heard that the Gulfport Police Department was called before 7:00 pm on June 27, 2022, in reference to a shooting. When the police arrived, they located Oatis deceased in his car after being shot one time in the abdomen. Crime scene investigators also located a bullet lodged in Oatis’ cell phone, which was located between Oatis and the center console of his car. Police determined that White was on scene at the time of the shooting.
The next morning Garrett White came to the police station and advised he was a witness to the homicide and a victim of an armed robbery occurring at the same time. White advised that he and Oatis were scheduled to meet Norman, Hunt, and Chopin at a location on 31st Street to purchase marijuana. White testified that when they arrived, he entered the car with Hunt and Chopin, while Norman got into the car with Oatis. Shortly after getting in the car with Hunt and Chopin, White testified he observed Oatis and Norman engaged in a struggle inside Oatis’ car.
White testified he got out of the car to assist Oatis and saw that Oatis and Norman were fighting over a gun inside of Oatis’s car. White stated that, after he got out, Hunt and Chopin exited their car and both of them pulled out pistols and robbed him of his cell phone and money. Then, he stated that he ran off and heard a gunshot while fleeing. White was able to provide police a description of the car that defendants were in and told how they met the defendants earlier that day at a gas station in Gulfport.
Co-Defendant Eric Chopin also testified in the trial. Chopin had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery. Chopin, who was 15 years old at the time, testified that Hunt and Norman picked him up in Moss Point and confirmed that they had met Oatis and White at a gas station in Gulfport where the arrangement to sell marijuana was made.
Chopin testified both parties met at a location in Gulfport and that White got into the car with him along with Hunt to conduct the marijuana sale. Chopin said that when White exited their car, he and Hunt armed themselves with pistols, then robbed White of his cell phone and money. Chopin said that immediately after the robbery of White occurred, White fled the scene.
Chopin then expressed Hunt approached the car Oatis and Norman were in and fired one shot into the car. Finally, Chopin testified that after the shooting, Norman reentered their car with a gun and a large amount of money and both took him back to Moss Point after the shooting.
“Based upon the information Garrett White provided the Gulfport Police Department, Detectives were able to identify the defendant’s car from gas station surveillance and, working with other law enforcement agencies, were able to track the car after the shooting through Biloxi into Pascagoula. Gulfport Detectives began pinging a phone number associated with the suspect car and determined the car was in Jackson, MS. Detectives then went to Jackson and located Hunt and the car. Inside the car, police located 2 handguns. An expert with the Mississippi Forensics Lab confirmed that the bullet lodged in Oatis’ cell phone was fired by one of the guns found in Hunt’s car, confirming that was the murder weapon”, said Assistant District Attorney Matthew D. Burrell, who tried the case with Jason Josef.
Police also located the phone they were pinging in Hunt’s pocket. During a search of that phone, police found messages between Hunt and Norman where they discussed the shooting after it happened. The jury was also shown a video on Hunt’s phone taken shortly after the robbery and killing, in which he is seen laughing and waving a large sum of cash, while both (Hunt & Norman) can also be seen and heard laughing.
Hunt testified in his own defense telling the jury their only intent that day was to go sell marijuana. Hunt denied participating in the robbery of Garrett White and told the jury he shot Oatis because he was in fear of his life.
The jury deliberated for more than five hours before returning guilty verdicts of first-degree murder and armed robbery against the defendants. The jury also returned a guilty verdict of felon in possession of a weapon against Norman for the pistol he possessed during the robbery.
During sentencing, Judge Dodson reviewed the facts and circumstances of the case, along with letters on behalf of Oatis’ family. Prior to sentencing the Defendants, Judge Dodson emphasized the fact these defendants voluntarily placed themselves at the scene and created this situation that led to Oatis’ death.
“We want to commend the Gulfport Police Department in their tireless efforts in investigating these crimes and apprehending the defendants. This case is a great example of hard work and multiple law enforcement agencies assisting each other in locating the responsible parties. Their efforts are reflected in the jury’s verdict and the Court’s sentence. These individuals have been held fully accountable for the actions they took that day”, said District Attorney W. Crosby Parker.
