A male suspected of fatally shooting two men just hours and miles apart Sunday in Attala County, Mississippi, allegedly attempted to break into a home — but the armed homeowner was ready for him.
Authorities told WLBT-TV the first shooting occurred around 1 p.m. when deputies and EMS were dispatched to County Road 1107 after a man had been shot in the road.
‘There is no way to explain that.’
Tim Lawrence, 67, was pronounced dead at the scene, the station said.
Chris Hughes, 41, was identified as a suspect, and authorities were told that Hughes had been picked up and was a passenger in a gray GM truck, WLBT reported.
Deputies at 3:20 p.m. were dispatched to yet another shooting on Country Road 1141, the station said.
A gray GM truck matching the description of the vehicle Hughes was believed to be in was found wrecked, and the driver — 46-year-old Jeffery Mallet Jr. — had been shot, WLBT reported. Mallet later was pronounced dead, the station said.
Authorities said Mallet and Hughes were cousins, WAPT-TV reported.
The two shooting scenes were approximately four miles apart, WLBT noted, adding that as a manhunt was underway, a perimeter was secured, checkpoints were set up throughout the area, and multiple drones and a state highway patrol helicopter were deployed.
A search warrant was executed on Hughes’ home, but the residence was found empty, WLBT said.
Soon after, gunshots were heard, and law enforcement went toward them to find Hughes tried to break into a homeowner’s back door, WLBT reported.
But WLBT said the homeowner fired a weapon, striking Hughes.
EMS was dispatched, and Hughes was taken to a hospital where he later was pronounced dead, WLBT noted.
“There is no way to explain that,” Attala County Sheriff Curtis Pope told WAPT. “No matter how long you’re in this business, every situation is different.”
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Crime thwarted, 2nd amend., Guns, Gun rights, Fatal shooting, Attempted home invasion, Mississippi, Murder suspect, Crime
