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.
- Two brothers were arrested in Mississippi following a manhunt for the shooting of a Covington County deputy.
- The deputy was shot during a traffic stop that led to a vehicle chase and was last reported in stable condition.
- The arrested brothers are also related to a teenager charged with capital murder in a separate case.
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.