Harrison County officer fatally shoots person after attack on Biloxi highway, authorities say
A member of Harrison County law enforcement shot and killed a person Thursday after a two-car crash in Biloxi, according to a press release from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
A Harrison County Board of Supervisor’s county patrol officer stopped to “render aid” near the intersection of Highway 67 and Shriner’s Boulevard about 4 p.m. when “a subject attacked the officer multiple times,” MBI said.
The officer fired her gun to defend herself in the attack, striking the subject, Sheriff Troy Peterson told the Sun Herald. The shooting happened in a wooded area near the accident scene., an official with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety confirmed.
The officer involved represents District One and Supervisor Beverly Martin, Peterson said. Supervisors’ patrol officers are also referred to as safety officers. They do not work for the sheriff’s department.
MBI has not released any other details, and the agency said it is “currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence.”
The Harrison County Board of Supervisors released a statement Thursday night that described the crash as a “hit and run” accident” The full statement said:
“This afternoon one of Harrison County’s trained county patrol officers, after observing a hit and run accident, attempted to subdue the fleeing driver who caused the accident. The driver first attempted to flee with the officer in pursuit then he turned to threaten and attack the officer multiple times until the officer had no choice but to use deadly force. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation. The Board appreciates our citizens’ patience while the MBI completes its investigation into this unfortunate incident. No further comments will be made until the investigation is completed.”
The area where the shooting occurred is near the Mississippi Highway Patrol station.
A county patrol officer — or safety officer — is not a common term associated with law enforcement. In Harrison County, each supervisor has a patrol officer for their district. Most, including the officer involved in Thursday’s shooting, are certified law enforcement officers who undergo training.
MBI is the agency that investigates all officer-involved shootings in Mississippi. Information from the investigation is turned over to the state Attorney General’s office.
