Lester Sartin Jr., 22, of Hattiesburg, Miss., was killed on Christmas Eve in what investigators are now calling a drug deal that went bad.

According to Lt. Jon Traxler of HPD, “A drug deal was arranged, one group decided to rob the drug dealers. In the robbery, shots were fired.”

This attempted robbery resulted in the death of Lester Sartin, and five other arrests in connection to his death and the drug deal.

According to officials, police responded to multiple calls reporting gunfire at 1500 Country Club Road at Pineview Apartments around 8:00 p.m. December 24. When they arrived on scene, Sartin was transported to Forrest General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Chance Nicholas Smith, 19, of Brookhaven, Miss. was taken into custody Tuesday night and formally charged with murder for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of Sartin.

Early Wednesday, Hattiesburg police made three more arrests in the case. Damien Sartin, 20, and Marcus Sartin, 20, both relatives of the victim, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance and attempted armed robbery. Semmie Smith, 21, of Brookhaven, Miss, has been charged with murder. He is not related to Chance Smith.

Thursday, Hattiesburg police arrested Freddie Steele, 20, on charges of attempted armed robbery.

Official reports still are not clear on exactly what role Steele allegedly played in the events that transpired the night of December 24.