Mississippi deputy shot during standoff in Simpson County

A Mississippi deputy was shot during a welfare check at a rural home, and one suspect was taken into custody after a standoff, according to officials. Authorities are still searching the home for a possible second suspect.

The incident began just before 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday when two Simpson County deputies responded to a home on W.L. Blair Circle in Mendenhall, a small city south of Jackson, after relatives said they could not reach the people who lived there.

When deputies arrived, someone inside the home opened fire, striking one of them, Rankin County officials said. The deputy was treated for his injuries and was expected to recover at home.

More law enforcement officers responded to the area, including the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, SWAT teams and other agencies. Tyler Burnell, an investigator with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, said additional shots were fired from inside the home as officers arrived.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said deputies and civilians were “pinned down by gunfire” during the response. Surrounding homes were evacuated as a precaution, though authorities said there was no immediate danger to the public.

Negotiators began speaking with two people believed to be inside the home after a special response team arrived, according to WAPT. One suspect told negotiators he would surrender at the front door but ran out the back of the house, where he was chased down and taken into custody, officials said.

The suspect has not been publicly identified. Officials described him as a Black male wearing black pants, a green shirt and a backpack, according to WLBT.

A second suspect was believed to still be inside the home hours after the standoff began. The Mississippi Highway Patrol SWAT Team is holding a perimeter while authorities search the house, including with drones.

It was not immediately clear whether anyone else had been injured. Officials said they did not have information about the condition of the homeowners who were the subject of the initial welfare call.