JPD officer critical after shooting
Published 4:42 pm Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Two suspects face multiple charges in the wounding of a Jackson police officer who was shot during the pursuit of two robbery suspects.
Police officer DeWayne Collier remained in critical condition Tuesday at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The 37-year-old Collier is a six-year police department veteran.
The suspects in the shootout were arrested Monday.
Police Chief Malcolm McMillin says 20-year-old Cornelius Black of Jackson and 22-year-old Antonio Turner of Brandon have each been charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, armed carjacking, two counts of armed robbery of a business and being a felon in possession of a firearm. They were being held without bond Tuesday pending an initial court appearance.
McMillin says police are investigating reports that a third person may have been involved.
McMillin says the shooting occurred in west Jackson after Collier chased a car that matched the description of a vehicle used Monday in the robbery of Mississippi Title Loans.
McMillin said the car ran into a ditch and at least one of the suspects got out the vehicle and fired several shots at Collier.
He said one of the suspects fled the scene in Collier’s patrol car and later abandoned it about four miles from where the shooting took place.
The first suspect was found hiding in a wooded area near the abandoned squad car. McMillin says the second suspect was found in a wooded area near the site of the shooting.