Mississippi

Service held for fallen deputy: Who was Hinds County Deputy Martin Shields Jr. of Mississippi?

Published

1 year ago

March 2, 2025

Press Room

Service held for fallen deputy: Who was Hinds County Deputy Martin Shields Jr. of Mississippi?

Hinds County Deputy Martin Luther Shields Jr., 37, was fatally shot on Feb. 23 while responding to a domestic dispute call.
Hundreds of people, including Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, attended Shields’ funeral to pay their respects.
Shields was remembered as a dedicated officer and a loving husband and father.
Colleagues from various law enforcement agencies shared stories about Shields’ character and commitment to service.

Tears and laughter flowed freely Sunday at the Jackson Revival Center as family, friends and law enforcement officials from around the state gathered to say their goodbyes to fallen Hinds County Deputy Martin Luther Shields Jr., who was killed Feb. 23.

The celebration of life service for the 37-year-old deputy was held Sunday afternoon, a week after Shields was fatally shot on the evening of Feb. 23 while responding to a domestic dispute call at a home on Midway Road in Terry.

Born on July 14, 1987, Shields dedicated his life to serving his community and protecting his fellow citizens. This was evident in the hundreds of people who showed up to pay their respects, including Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves.

“We gather here today not just to mourn the loss of a hero who gave his life in service to his community, but we also come here today to celebrate a life well-lived. (Shields) represents the very best of Mississippi,” Reeves said. “Shields will never be forgotten.”

The family and friends of Shields were led in by a procession of law enforcement officials who entered the sanctuary in a double-file line. They approached the alter where Shields lay in a casket, one side open to reveal his serene face, the other side closed and draped with an American flag, symbolizing his service and sacrifice.

Surrounding his casket were beautiful flowers, a representation of the love and admiration that surrounded Shields inside the sanctuary. Loved ones took their time saying their goodbyes before the casket was closed completely, a moment that was met with tears and sorrow.

Martin was educated in the Jackson Public School District, graduating from Lanier High School in 2006. He attended Hinds Community College before pursuing his true passion in law enforcement at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy, graduating in 2016. Martin had an extensive career in law enforcement working at Jackson State University, Jackson Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, where Shields served until his death.

Martin leaves behind his wife, Kristian, and his daughter, Aubrey. Martin also survived his father, Martin Shields Sr., and his mother, Marcie Levy.

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said Shields was not only a member of the law enforcement family but a beacon of commitment, a protector and a friend to the communities in which he served.

“Job well done thy faithful servant,” Jones said, directing his comments to the fallen officer. “You will forever be a part of us. May your legacy live on in the many lives that you’ve touched.”

What did people say about Martin Shields Jr.?

Jones was one of several speakers at the service who spoke highly of Shields, not only as a dedicated deputy and a loyal classmate but, most importantly, as a person. Their words painted a picture of a man who was deeply loved and respected by all who knew him.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said that over the three years employed with the JPD, Shields did not just show up to work but to work hard, serving citizens of Jackson located in Precinct 1 of South Jackson. Wade noted Shields received the “I am COJ (City of Jackson) Award” for his heroic actions in administering NARCAN to an individual, saving their life.

Wade said when Shields accepted the award, Shields stated, “I just get out here to do my job. I really don’t like looking forward to any awards, just making people smile is the best thing that I can do.”

Wade presented a plaque to the family to commemorate Shields’ service to the city of Jackson. Wade also presented to the family a “Shadow Box” containing Shields’ badge and ID from his tenure with Jackson police.

“God bless you, and we will continue to keep you uplifted in our prayers,” Wade said to the family.

Ridgeland Police Corp. Phillip Kendrick fondly recalled working night shift rotations with Shields, a time when the duo was affectionately nicknamed “Bad Boys” by the people they encountered.

“You couldn’t see him without me and vice versa,” Kendrick said.

Hinds County Sgt. Ronnie Hubbard, who supervised Shields for eight months, described him as a highly dependable individual who exemplified the best qualities of wearing a badge. Hubbard said Shields embodied courage, passion and unwavering commitment to being a public servant.

“Your sacrifices will never be forgotten. Rest in peace knowing that your service made a difference,” Hubbard said.

Anthony Brown, Jr. and Robert Jones III recognized as friends of Shields said, “to know Martin is to love him unconditionally.”

Several agencies were in attendance, including the Hattiesburg Police Department, Madison Police Department and Leake County Sheriff’s Office. Pastor Jennifer Biard delivered the eulogy.

Source link

Click to comment

Mississippi

New tariff on brand name drugs could impact Mississippi pharmacies

Published

2 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A new federal tariff on imported, brand name prescription drugs could soon impact how much Mississippians pay at pharmacies.

President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday targeting imported brand name drugs with a 100 percent tariff, citing the U.S.’s “import reliance” as reason for the decision.

“We’re concerned about those patients not being able to afford their medications. When a patient cannot afford their medication, they tend to skip their medication. And so, a little problem can lead to a large problems with hospital visits,” said Dr. Andrew Clark, owner of Northtown Pharmacy.

Pharmacists are also worried about whether medications will be available at all.

“If their cost increase, those supply chains will be disrupted, which can lead to back order or medication shortage. And as a pharmacist, what we’re concerned about is adherence. If there’s a shortage in medication, then those patients are not adhering to those medications,” Clark said.

While the policy aims to lower drug costs by bringing more manufacturing to the U.S., pharmacists said that relief won’t happen overnight.

“I don’t see drug manufacturers moving next month. And so, you can’t go two and three months without getting medication or can’t afford those medications,” stated Clark.

Pharmacists encouraged anyone picking up prescriptions to ask about lower-cost alternatives, generics or patient assistance programs to help manage costs.

Source link

Mississippi

Desoto County native helps guide NASA’s Artemis II moon mission

Published

14 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Desoto County native helps guide NASA’s Artemis II moon mission

From Mississippi to the moon.

That’s one way to characterize the career trajectory of Matthew Ramsey, a DeSoto County native who is helping to guide Artemis II, the NASA space mission now on its way to Earth’s natural satellite.

A veteran aerospace engineer and 1993 Mississippi State graduate who pitched for the university’s “Diamond Dawgs” baseball team while studying the science and design principles that would prove invaluable to NASA, Ramsey, who hails from Hernando, is “mission manager” for the expedition that is taking astronauts around the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Working largely out of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Ramsey was responsible for ensuring the safety and efficiency of the hardware and technology for the flight, while also helping to define the priorities of the mission.

Launched April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Artemis II mission consists of four astronauts inside an Orion rocket on a 10-day, 685,000-mile “flyby” around the moon. The crew will test life-support systems, engineering maneuverability and other aspects of space travel in preparation for the return of astronauts to the lunar surface — and beyond.

“For me, it’s all about the crew and ensuring their safety as they venture to the Moon and come home,” said Ramsey, in a statement released by NASA. “Sending people thousands of miles from home and doing it in a way that sets the stage for long-term exploration and scientific discovery is an incredibly complex task.”

Referencing his college career with the Mississippi State Bulldogs, or “Diamond Dawgs,” he said: “There are a lot of similarities between mission management and pitching. You control many aspects of the tempo, and there’s a lot of weight on your shoulders.”

Ramsey worked in both private and government sectors of the tech industry before joining the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 2002, working on the design of guidance, navigation and control systems for various rocket programs. For Artemis I, the uncrewed moon-orbiting mission of 2022, he coordinated the work of multiple engineering teams.

Ramsey and his colleagues already are preparing for Artemis III, which will conduct tests in Earth’s orbit, and Artemis IV, scheduled for the spring of 2028, which will return astronauts to the lunar surface.

As a NASA press release states, Ramsey is helping to get the space agency “primed for what lies ahead: sending humans back to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years and laying the foundation for future missions that will ultimately enable human exploration of Mars.”

Source link

Mississippi

Mississippi judges could receive pay raises exceeding $10,000

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Mississippi judges could receive pay raises exceeding ,000

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – More than 100 judges could soon receive pay raises exceeding $10,000 under legislation now awaiting the governor’s signature.

In all, 128 judges would receive raises ranging from $11,404 to $13,877.

“We’re doing that for judges to retain good judges, to attract better lawyers to the bench to serve as judges,” said Rep. Robert Johnson, who voted in favor of the pay raise.

Proposed raises by position

Circuit and chancery court judges would receive a pay raise of $13,063, bringing their new salary to $171,063.

Presiding justices of the Supreme Court would receive a pay raise of $13,877, bringing their new salary to $190,614.

Associate justices of the Supreme Court would receive a pay raise of $13,825, bringing their new salary to $187,625.

The chief justice of the Supreme Court would receive a pay raise of $12,680, bringing the new salary to $194,171.

The chief judge of the Court of Appeals would receive a pay raise of $13,275, bringing the new salary to $182,624.

Associate judges of the Court of Appeals would receive a pay raise of $11,404, bringing their new salary to $179,871.

“We want the best people in those jobs. To attract them, you got to pay them,” Johnson said.

Teacher pay comparison

While Johnson supported the judicial pay raises, he said teachers should have also received a significant pay increase.

Lawmakers approved giving teachers and assistant teachers a $2,000 raise.

Special education teachers would get an additional $2,000, for a total raise of $4,000.

Mississippi ranks last in the country when it comes to teacher pay.

According to the National Education Association, the average teacher salary in Mississippi is $53,704.

Johnson said state leaders should find funding to give educators a thriving wage, the same way they did for judges.

“We ought to have that same philosophy, and I have that same philosophy, and I think most people do with teachers, we need to do the same thing,” Johnson said. “Now, arguably, a teacher pay raise I’m talking about would be 10 to 20 times larger because there are more teachers than there are judges. But the philosophy is the same. If you want to attract the best people, you’ve got to pay the best people.”

The bill now heads to the governor’s desk. If signed into law, the new raises would take effect July 1.

Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.

Source link