Harrison Co. grand jury clears deputy in woman’s shooting

Published 10:54 pm Saturday, November 11, 2006

A Harrison County grand jury on Friday found a county deputy did nothing wrong in a January shooting that wounded a woman.

The grand jury report said Deputy John Massengill did not commit a crime Jan. 2 when he fired 11 rounds at Zeta McBroom’s Ford Bronco as her vehicle headed toward him in reverse on county road.

Massengill, who testified that he tried to stop her before she ran a red light at Mississippi 53 and U.S. 49, told grand jurors he believed he and another officer were in danger, according to the report.

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Medical tests showed McBroom was legally drunk and tested positive for cannabinoids, a compound found in marijuana, according to the grand jury report.

Her vehicle was struck eight times. One bullet hit her lower neck. Her attorney has said she is paralyzed from the waist down.

Massengill had been on administrative leave with pay since the incident.