Sheriff tells sad circumstances of Pontotoc Co. shooting death

New Albany MS: 11:45PM July 1- Pontotoc Co. shooting death updated by Sheriff.

One man was shot dead by law enforcement officers at the end of a chase that started Monday evening in Union County and ended with the in Pontotoc County shooting.

Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards said a deputy made a traffic stop on County Road 102 in the Lone Star community about 6:30 p.m., July 1. According to the sheriff the occupant of the stopped vehicle, “emerged from the vehicle, squared off with the deputy and brandished a hand gun.” The sheriff said the man’s words to the deputy were to the effect that he would not be taken under arrest.

The man then got back into the vehicle, drove away and, early in the chase, fired at least two shots from his hand gun back at the pursuing deputy. The chase continued onto County Road 346, then along Highway 278 and Highway 6, before it ended with the Pontotoc County shooting on Highway 9 West.

The defiant man struck another vehicle on Highway 9, but continued to flee officers, including additional deputies from Union and Pontotoc Counties and troopers of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Sheriff Edwards said that when the man finally stopped, he emerged from the vehicle and starting firing his handgun at law officers. He was shot and killed. It is believed that the fatal shots were fired by a Union County deputy and a highway patrolman. The sheriff said the shots were fired from a distance of 15 to 20 yards.

The dead man has been identified, but his name has not been officially released. The name is not likely to be officially given until sometime Tuesday, so will not be stated at this time by NAnewsweb.com.

“It’s a sad, sad story,” said Sheriff Edwards. “Sad for the dead man and his family and for the officers who were forced to do the shooting. The guys are pretty upset. Killing a man is an awful thing to have to do. I’m just glad the officers will go home safely to their families tonight.”

The sheriff said they dead man had prior arrests and had been a Union County resident. He said he did not know whether the man was  still considered a resident of Union County.

Original NAnewsweb.com article: http://newalbanyunionco.com/suspect-dead-following-vehicle-pursuit-by-union-co-sheriffs-deputies/