Shots rang out in Ridgeland on New Year’s Eve after an officer opened fire on a driver at the Renaissance shopping plaza.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting, Mississippi Department of Public Safety Media and Public Relations Specialist Bailey Martin confirmed in a statement to the Mississippi Free Press on Dec. 31.
“Officers with the Ridgeland Police Department were conducting surveillance on a vehicle,” Martin said. “An officer attempted to approach the vehicle, when the driver of the vehicle drove towards an officer.”
The driver, a 16-year-old, attempted to drive off, hitting the officer in the process, WLBT reported on Dec. 31.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 99px;}}@media ( min-width: 320px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 99px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 90px;}}
“The officer discharged his weapon, striking the subject,” Martin said. The driver then led officers on “a brief pursuit on Interstate-220 before the vehicle came to a stop,” the statement continued.
Both the driver and officer received non-life threatening injuries. Martin said. “MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney General’s Office.”