Prentiss County authorities continue to investigate an alleged attack in the Wheeler community Wednesday that left two people injured, one critically, and the suspect hospitalized as well.
Sheriff Randy Tolar said his department received a call from a Wheeler resident that he was following an individual who had been involved in an incident the previous night. Deputies had been unable to locate the suspect following the previous incident.
Then, around 8:30 Wednesday morning the call came in and deputies were dispatched to a location near the head start in Wheeler.
“The caller stayed on the line as best that was possible keeping the dispatch posted on the suspect’s location and direction of travel as well as his erratic behavior,” Tolar said. “At one point the suspect went to a nearby residence and began assaulting a female resident. The caller then made contact with the suspect and shot him twice just before deputies arrived, incapacitating the suspect and likely saving the female victim’s life.”
Tolar said once officers arrived they secured the scene and called for medical aid to respond. During the initial investigation, the suspect revealed that he had beaten an elderly man nearby in his shop. Deputies and investigators responded to that location and found the man clinging to life.
“The two victims were taken to NMMC in Tupelo,” Tolar said. “The suspect was airlifted to the Med in Memphis. Our last reports on the suspect was that he was in stable condition. This morning family members reported that the elder man is in critical condition and in a coma.”
Tolar said the female victim was treated and released from the hospital Wednesday evening.
Charges have been filed against the suspect for two counts of attempted murder. He will be transported back to Prentiss County upon his release from the The Med in Memphis. The identity of the suspect is being withheld until charges are officially filed.
