Mississippi
Manhunt ends after brothers arrested in Covington County deputy shooting
How the National Blue Alert System keeps law enforcement safe
Learn about the National Blue Alert Network, its function and the states participating in this crucial law enforcement alert system.
Mississippi authorities said brothers Cortavious Lawayne Hobbs, 18, and Cortavion Dewayne Hobbs, 19, were arrested June 9 without incident, ending a manhunt tied to the shooting of a Covington County deputy.
The shooting occurred between 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Monday, June 8, in Mount Olive when deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle.
The Covington County Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle failed to stop and fled, leading deputies on a chase down U.S. Highway 49 before arriving on a gravel road near Greer’s CashSaver store.
The sheriff’s office said the vehicle “became stuck,” and the driver exited the vehicle with their hands raised. Investigators said other occupants exited the vehicle and fired shots at deputies on the scene.
A deputy was shot during the interaction with the suspects near the Covington, Smith and Simpson County lines.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Yates Rodney was the deputy injured.
Smith County Sheriff Joel Houston said the bullet struck the deputy above his vest and beneath his arm, causing life-threatening injuries. Rodney was transported to Forrest General Hospital, where he was last reported to be in stable condition.
A second deputy provided backup and returned fire during the encounter but was not injured, authorities said.
On Monday evening, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation initially issued Blue Alerts for two suspects identified as Zykerian Magee, 19, and Cortavion.
The Covington County Sheriff’s Office later announced that Magee turned himself in and, after being interviewed by investigators, was determined to have been misidentified.
MBI updated its alert stating Magee was cleared as a suspect. Authorities then notified the public that officers were searching for Cortavion and his younger brother Cortavious.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Cortavion and Cortavious were apprehended around 1 a.m. Tuesday in the general area of the incident. The brothers were found hiding under a house, the sheriff’s office said.
Covington County Sheriff Darrell Perkins said the two suspects in custody are also the brothers of Cordarius Laray Hobbs, 17.
Cordarius faces charges of capital murder, burglary and aggravated assault in the June 3 deaths of 74-year-old Billy Blair and 71-year-old Virginia Carol Blair, a married couple, during a standoff in Simpson County. Cordarius previously pleaded not guilty to 13 felony charges in the case.
According to investigators, Simpson County deputies were conducting a welfare check at the Blairs’ home when they believe they interrupted a burglary in progress. Authorities said Cordarius shot a deputy and held law enforcement at bay for several hours before he was eventually taken into custody.
What is a Blue Alert?
The Mississippi Blue Alert System is an alert activated when a law enforcement officer is injured, killed or missing in the line of duty and the suspect remains at large.
A Blue Alert is designed to quickly alert the public, media and other agencies so they can help locate and apprehend the suspect before further harm can occur.
A Blue Alert uses multiple communication channels such as TV, radio, mobile phone alerts and highway message boards, to spread suspect descriptions and vehicle details.
The national system, National Blue Alert Network, was created under the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015, named after two New York City police officers who were killed in an ambush attack.
Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from June 8 drawing
01-05-08-17-27
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 8 drawing
Midday: 2-0-1, FB: 8
Evening: 3-7-0, FB: 9
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 8 drawing
Midday: 4-1-1-5, FB: 8
Evening: 0-6-8-4, FB: 9
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 8 drawing
Midday: 12
Evening: 04
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Sam LeJeune, according to recruiting website logs everywhere, is touring the University of Washington football facilities on Monday (today) in an official capacity.
He is a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive tackle and end from Mississippi, specifically a 4-star prospect from Poplarville, which is 45 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and 74 from New Orleans.
LeJeune, according to his various recruiting profiles, is down to four schools: Auburn, California, Florida State and Washington.
FSU is believed to be the favorite because it has had this kid on campus nearly a dozen times since they first crossed paths at the Seminoles’ 2024 Big Man Camp — and will host him last among his final suitors this coming Friday.
A note to Huskies recruiters about to give him a Montlake sales pitch, offering a few salient points to consider:
Introduce LeJeune to sophomore linebacker Zayrdium Rainey-Sale, who two years ago chose between the Seminoles and the UW among a few others, and settled into Montlake instead of Tallahassee.
Also introduce him to sophomore defensive tackle Kai McClendon, who’s from Mississippi, specifically Gulfport, which is about 48 miles from Poplarville.
McClendon was persuaded to leave the Deep South and come north, with the promise of significant playing time once he is fully recovered from a knee injury suffered nearly a year ago.
The UW recruiters should remind this visitor, too, that the program has had a homegrown Mississippi player in three of the past four seasons, counting quarterback Will Rogers, running back Dillon Johnson and McClendon, all of whom transferred out of Mississippi State.
Blessed to recieve an offer from Washington. pic.twitter.com/qsCJv2l2yK
— Sam LeJeune (@sam_lejeune08) May 15, 2026
For an 8-5 Hornets team last fall, LeJeune piled up 58 tackles, including 22 tackles for loss and 7 sacks, plus 5 pass break-ups, 5 blocked field-goal attempts, a forced fumble and a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown. He gets around on the football field.
Noting his mobility, which includes a 4.8-second 40-yard dash, Rivals has ranked him as the nation’s No. 10 defensive line prospect and No. 105 player overall.
Should the Huskies be able to coax him into playing in Seattle, LeJeune would become the fourth commit among their 2027 defensive-line prospects.
Others are defensive tackles in 6-foot-3, 295-pound Jon Ioane from Tustin California, and 6-foot-4, 270-pound Tevita Nonu from Seattle, plus 6-foot-3, 240-pound edge rusher Matamatagi Uiagalelei from Santa Ana, California.
Ioane and Nonu likewise are 4-star recruits.
The Huskies offered LeJeune on May 14 and have increased their recruitment of him in corresponding fashion over the past 25 days.
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