Mississippi cops launch manhunt for gunman who ‘shot and killed a deputy when he tried to take him into custody’
- Mississippi authorities are on a manhunt for Joaquin Steven Blackwell, 22
- Blackwell allegedly fatally shot a sheriff’s deputy who took him into custody
- Blackwell was last seen wearing only white boxer shorts on Friday night
Mississippi authorities are on a manhunt for a suspect who fatally shot a sheriff’s deputy after grabbing the cop’s gun while he was taken into custody.
The Hinds County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet that Joaquin Steven Blackwell, 22, of Magee, Mississippi, is ‘armed and dangerous’ after having fatally shot a Simpson County Deputy Friday night.
The Jones County Sheriff’s Department identified the deputy as being James Blair in a Facebook post Friday, noting he was ‘Shot and killed in the line duty’ and his end of watch date.
Joaquin Steven Blackwell, 22 (pictured), of Magee, Mississippi, is ‘armed and dangerous’ after having fatally shot a Simpson County Deputy Friday night
The Jones County Sheriff’s Department identified the slain deputy as being James Blair
Regions 8 Health executive director Dave Van told WJTV that Blackwell had been in the sheriff’s department’s custody and was brought to the mental health facility for an evaluation because Blackwell’s family was worried about his mental health.
While the deputy was taking Blackwell into custody after the evaluation, he allegedly grabbed the deputy’s gun while getting into the car and shot him.
Blackwell then supposedly left the scene.
The deputy was airlifted to the hospital, where he died.
It’s unclear why Blackwell had been taken into custody and how long he had been at the mental health facility or in custody.
He was last seen wearing just white boxer shorts.