Escapee sought in slaying of deputy, 77

MENDENHALL, Miss. — Mississippi law enforcement officials are continuing the search for an escaped inmate in the shooting death of a 77-year-old Simpson County sheriff’s deputy.

The Jones County sheriff’s office in a social media post identified the slain deputy as James Blair. Blair was continuing to work to provide for six great-grandchildren that he and his wife were raising, the post said.

Law enforcement officials are searching for escapee Joaquin Stevens Blackwell.

The shooting happened at a mental health center in Mendenhall.

Dave Van, the executive director of Regions 8 Health, told WJTV that Blackwell was in the custody of the sheriff’s office when he was taken to the health center for an evaluation. Family members had been concerned about his mental health.

Van said that, after the evaluation, the suspect grabbed the deputy’s gun while getting in the car. Then he shot the deputy and left the scene, Van said.