2 Mississippi officers fatally shot; 3 suspects arrested

[webfact]

2 Mississippi officers fatally shot; 3 suspects arrested
REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (AP) — Two Mississippi police officers were shot to death during a routine evening traffic stop turned violent, a state law enforcement spokesman said Sunday. Four suspects were in custody, including two who were charged with capital murder.

The deaths of Officers Benjamin Deen and Liquori Tate — the first Hattiesburg police officers to die in the line of duty in more than 30 years— stunned this small city in southern Mississippi.

On Sunday morning, bloodstains still marked the street where the two were shot, and a steady stream of people visited the site to leave flowers or balloons. In the nearby New Hope Baptist Church, worshippers prayed for the fallen officers and their families.

"This should remind us to thank all law enforcement for their unwavering service to protect and serve," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said in a statement. "May God keep them all in the hollow of his hand."

Marvin Banks, 29, and Joanie Calloway, 22, were each charged with two counts of capital murder, said Warren Strain, a spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Banks also was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and with grand theft for fleeing in the police cruiser after the shooting, Strain said.

"He absconded with a Hattiesburg police cruiser. He didn't get very far, three or four blocks and then he ditched that vehicle," Strain said.

Banks' 26-year-old brother, Curtis Banks, was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact of capital murder.

The fourth person, 28-year-old Cornelius Clark, was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice, he added.

All four are expected to make their initial court appearances Monday at the Forest County Justice Court, Strain said. It was not immediately known if they had lawyers.

A preliminary investigation indicated Deen had pulled over the vehicle on suspicion of speeding and then called for backup, which is when Tate arrived. Strain said it was too early to say who shot the officers or how many shots were fired. He said both officers died of their wounds at a hospital.

Local reports identified the 34-year-old Deen as a past department "Officer of the Year," and the 25-year-old Tate was a newcomer to the force who Strain said was a 2014 graduate of the law enforcement academy.

Tate grew up in a tough part of Starkville, 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Hattiesburg, and decided to become a police officer so he could make a difference in the black community, said Jarvis Thompson, who knew him from childhood in church.

"He wanted to become an officer because we've seen so much of our peers get killed or end up in jail," said Thompson, 24, of Starkville. "He was talking all the time about how he wanted to do better and make the place better."

For many in this small community of Hattiesburg the first death of an officer in the line of duty in three decades was a shock.

Alberta Harris, who heads the Briarfield Neighborhood Association near the shooting site, said she knew both officers, and "both of them had a humble spirit. They cared about the people that they were serving and protecting."

At a news conference, Mayor Johnny DuPree asked the community to pull together.

"We want to ask everybody to pray for these families. We want everybody to pray for police officers not only here but around the United States," DuPree said.

A memorial service is planned for the two officers on Monday.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-05-11

[Shot]

Fourth suspect arrested. Cornelius Clark 28 of Hattiesburg.

I wonder if the WH will send anyone down for the funerals of the two dead cops?

[NeverSure]

"...and the 25-year-old Tate was a newcomer to the force who Strain said was a 2014 graduate of the law enforcement academy."

He was a newer recruit - a young clean-cut black guy who said he had joined the police to make the community better for the people he knew. What a shame. Nice kid.

RIP. His parents are devastated.

[boomerangutang]

Senseless and vicious murders.

[ggt]

Unfortunately...the police have brought a certain amount of animosity upon themselves by having a few bad apples making them all look bad...the public is starting to disrespect officers of the law...because of their abuse of their authority...

Very unfortunate incident...look for many more similar to this to follow in the coming months...

Having a badge and gun no longer creates fear among the population...

[nahkit]

Unfortunately...the police have brought a certain amount of animosity upon themselves by having a few bad apples making them all look bad...the public is starting to disrespect officers of the law...because of their abuse of their authority...

Very unfortunate incident...look for many more similar to this to follow in the coming months...

Having a badge and gun no longer creates fear among the population...

"Having a badge and gun no longer creates fear among the population"

Police officers are supposed to be respected, not feared. If they are feared then there is something wrong with the way they are doing their job.

[ABCer]

Why don't I see crowds out of control, anger, protests, etc.?

Always thought that violence and looting was just what it was - violence and looting.

[razer]

Looks like in the USA it is coming down to this when a policeman stops an individual ... shoot first or get shot.

[Ulysses G.]

Looks like in the USA it is coming down to this when a policeman stops an individual ... shoot first or get shot.

It has been that way for a while, which is one of the reasons that they sometimes overreact. I also think there are bad apples on the police force and not just a few of them, but maybe that just comes with the territory.

[Johnny S]

What d-bags - hope they get the ultimate punishment ...

Oh yeah where are the protesters (looters and criminals) now ?

[MaxYakov]

Unfortunately...the police have brought a certain amount of animosity upon themselves by having a few bad apples making them all look bad...the public is starting to disrespect officers of the law...because of their abuse of their authority...

Very unfortunate incident...look for many more similar to this to follow in the coming months...

Having a badge and gun no longer creates fear among the population...

"Having a badge and gun no longer creates fear among the population..."

Really?

And what "population" would you be referring to? Are you including law-abiding citizens?

I submit that these two young police officers were murdered specifically out of fear.

Fear of being arrested and charged with (at least) unlawful possession of firearms.

"State court records showed the Banks brothers are felons with multiple arrests for firearms charges."

Yahoo News

The main problem I have with your statement/post is that you call this multiple murder unfortunate, but you do not condemn it and go as far as to justify it.

[maidee]

back to the wild wild west

[VIPinthailand]

people pay tax for the police. it s their police.

[chuckd]

people pay tax for the police. it s their police.

Meaning??

[Pimay1]

One of the police officers was white and one was black. I'm sure Al Sharpton will be on the scene before sunrise demanding justice for the black police officer and race bating the people into a frenze causing another looting and burning riot.

[ABCer]

Yeah, I know. Have heard it many times:

It is not their fault, - they did it out of fear...

It is not their fault, - they were not educated the right way...

It is not their fault, - the white guy shot the black cop and the black guy shot the white cop. It is a racial issue...

It is not their fault, - the cops were wearing blue uniforms. It is a color issue...

It is not their fault, - end...

Mississippi Damn!

[Chicog]

They've all been charged with Capital murder or related offences.

I have yet to see Al Sharpton or anyone else make a case for their release.

Scum with Guns.

[JetsetBkk]

Fourth suspect arrested. Cornelius Clark 28 of Hattiesburg.

I wonder if the WH will send anyone down for the funerals of the two dead cops?

I believe Al Sharpton is available.

[F430murci]

Unfortunately...the police have brought a certain amount of animosity upon themselves by having a few bad apples making them all look bad...the public is starting to disrespect officers of the law...because of their abuse of their authority...

Very unfortunate incident...look for many more similar to this to follow in the coming months...

Having a badge and gun no longer creates fear among the population...

Brought this upon themselves? Whatever . . . Just more of the typical everyone else is responsible loser mentality for one's bad behavior bs that assures certain losers remain losers. Suppose it is hard for some to admit they are losers because of their own actions so it is always someone else's fault.

Cops being shot in the line of duty is nothing new. They have been for years and are constantly in the cross hairs of criminals that place no value on any life be it theirs, others or cops.

Incidents like this are simply more public now and have taken on new meaning.

Regardless as to what you say, shooting a cops is a reaction to fear at some level and typically fear of being arrested is sufficient for some dumb arrrssees to take extreme measures.

[F430murci]

They've all been charged with Capital murder or related offences.

I have yet to see Al Sharpton or anyone else make a case for their release.

Scum with Guns.

Scum with guns is why we have cops over reacting in situation after situation. If you went to work every day with the concern that you might not see your family that night if you let your guard down, then perhaps you would have some informed basis upon which to judge.

Your mind going to Al Sharpton lobbying for the thugs in jail exemplifies the problem. The issue is whether Al Sharpton will come and lobby for the poor cops shot in the line of duty. Nope, he won't. That doesn't fill his coffers and make his loser arrssee rich since he himself perhaps no legitimate means of actually earning a real and honest living.

[brling]

Fourth suspect arrested. Cornelius Clark 28 of Hattiesburg.

I wonder if the WH will send anyone down for the funerals of the two dead cops?

No, only when they are thugs.

[F430murci]

Yeah, I know. Have heard it many times:

It is not their fault, - they did it out of fear...

It is not their fault, - they were not educated the right way...

It is not their fault, - the white guy shot the black cop and the black guy shot the white cop. It is a racial issue...

It is not their fault, - the cops were wearing blue uniforms. It is a color issue...

It is not their fault, - end...

Mississippi Damn!

Yes!!! This is the loser mentality that keeps people down and seems very common with some on here . . .

[F430murci]

people pay tax for the police. it s their police.

Meaning??

I know . . . Curious if he means something like you my beeooettcch so I can kill you if I want to. Very difficult to understand some people's thought processes.

[ABCer]

They've all been charged with Capital murder or related offences.

I have yet to see Al Sharpton or anyone else make a case for their release.

Scum with Guns.

Caught and charged or escaped does not matter.

Scum with or without guns is immaterial.

The drama is -

They exist.

Sharptons exist.

USA is full of both.

[ABCer]

Yeah, I know. Have heard it many times:

It is not their fault, - they did it out of fear...

It is not their fault, - they were not educated the right way...

It is not their fault, - the white guy shot the black cop and the black guy shot the white cop. It is a racial issue...

It is not their fault, - the cops were wearing blue uniforms. It is a color issue...

It is not their fault, - end...

Mississippi Damn!

Yes!!! This is the loser mentality that keeps people down and seems very common with some on here . . .

F430murci, GOOGLE is your friend. Try 'sarcasm' and click.

[F430murci]

They've all been charged with Capital murder or related offences.

I have yet to see Al Sharpton or anyone else make a case for their release.

Scum with Guns.

Caught and charged or escaped does not matter.

Scum with or without guns is immaterial.

The drama is -

They exist.

Sharptons exist.

USA is full of both.

Lol, your ar a wise man and love the way you put things. Definitely the ABCs approach . . . Love it.

[Chicog]

Your mind going to Al Sharpton lobbying for the thugs in jail exemplifies the problem.

Whilst you may be correct that there is a correlation between police overreacting to African American suspects and the high rate of crime in that segment of society, you should note that "my mind going to Al Sharpton" was in response to some sneering comment in a previous post.

If this were three white suspects then we'd have people throwing their toys out of the pram about why the Police didn't turn their backs on the mayor, etc.

Such is the nature of TV.

RIP the two officers who never made it home last night, and condolences to their families.

One hopes the appropriate book is thrown at the killers.

[F430murci]

Your mind going to Al Sharpton lobbying for the thugs in jail exemplifies the problem.

Whilst you may be correct that there is a correlation between police overreacting to African American suspects and the high rate of crime in that segment of society, you should note that "my mind going to Al Sharpton" was in response to some sneering comment in a previous post.

If this were three white suspects then we'd have people throwing their toys out of the pram about why the Police didn't turn their backs on the mayor, etc.

Such is the nature of TV.

RIP the two officers who never made it home last night, and condolences to their families.

One hopes the appropriate book is thrown at the killers.

Why not quote full quote rather than pick and chose . . .

Al Shaprton is not just pat of the problem, his mentality is the problem. He approaches everything from the perspective of BLAME others as opposed to actually placing blame where blame is do. Al Shaprton, however, won't do what is healthy and needs to be down as that won't fill is coffers sufficiently to pay for his private jet. Therein lies the problem . . .

[Chicog]

Why not quote full quote rather than pick and chose . . .

Al Shaprton is not just pat of the problem, his mentality is the problem. He approaches everything from the perspective of BLAME others as opposed to actually placing blame where blame is do. Al Shaprton, however, won't do what is healthy and needs to be down as that won't fill is coffers sufficiently to pay for his private jet. Therein lies the problem . . .

I really don't know why you or anyone else is banging on about Al Sharpton.

Really has nothing to do with this case.

[F430murci]

Why not quote full quote rather than pick and chose . . .

Al Shaprton is not just pat of the problem, his mentality is the problem. He approaches everything from the perspective of BLAME others as opposed to actually placing blame where blame is do. Al Shaprton, however, won't do what is healthy and needs to be down as that won't fill is coffers sufficiently to pay for his private jet. Therein lies the problem . . .

I really don't know why you or anyone else is banging on about Al Sharpton.

Really has nothing to do with this case.

Lol, if you cannot make that simple logical leap . . . you cannot truly have an informed or intelligent opinion on any of this and there are all a lot of complicated issues at play here.