Manhunt Underway After Inmate Escapes A Mississippi Mental Health Center & Fatally Shoots Deputy
In Mendenhall, Mississippi, a manhunt is underway after a 22-year-old mental health center inmate escaped and fatally shot a 77-year-old Simpson County Sheriff’s deputy. Authorities have identified the escaped inmate and suspected shooter as Joaquin Stevens Blackwell.
They say the shooting happened at Regions 8 Health, where Blackwell was taken for an evaluation, after family members listed concerns about his mental health. After his evaluation, Blackwell grabbed the gun of the deputy, identified as James Blair, and got into a vehicle. Before fleeing the scene, he shot the deputy.
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Blair was immediately flown to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities say Blackwell is still on the run, considered armed and dangerous. They add that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has issued a Blue Alert to the public for safety, and are offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who has leads to an arrest.
Be sure to stay tuned to Hollywood Unlocked as further details surface regarding this story.
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