Investigators say more than a dozen shots fired in firefighters’ murders

Published 8:25 am Tuesday, March 5, 2019

More than 12 shots were fired late Friday night during a shooting that killed two Mississippi volunteer firefighters, officials said.

Adams County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jerry Brown revealed more details Monday in the shooting that killed volunteer firefighters Troy Whittington and Jason Haley.

Jonathan Beach, 36, was arrested soon after the shooting on two counts of murder in the deaths of Whittington and Haley.

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Beach made his initial court appearance Sunday in front of Adams County Justice Court Judge Eileen Maher, who denied bail because she said Beach potentially faces capital murder charges and is a danger to the community.

Brown said Whittington and Haley both had their guns drawn Friday evening when Beach entered his wife’s residence on Quasar Street, just off of U.S. 61 North, while carrying a gun and saying he wanted to talk to his wife.

Brown said Whittington and Haley were both off-duty during the incident and were at the residence with a group of adults and children. Brown said, as far he knows, Whittington and Haley were just friends with Beach’s wife and tried to protect her from Beach when he entered the residence. Beach’s wife and others were barricaded in a bedroom during the shooting, Brown said.

Brown said, according to witnesses, Whittington and Haley told Beach to leave the house multiples time. Beach then demanded to see his wife. Soon after, gunfire erupted, Brown said.

Brown said Haley fired a .45-caliber handgun multiple times and Beach fired a .454 Casull revolver “four or five times” in the incident. Whittington had a 9-millimeter gun, but did not fire, Brown said. Investigators recovered eight shell casings from Haley’s firearm inside the residence, Brown said.

Brown said Haley shot Beach twice, wounding Beach in the pelvic area and his right hand.

Adams County Coroner James Lee said Haley was shot multiple times and Whittington was killed with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Both firefighters were pronounced dead by Lee at 1 a.m. Saturday. The bodies have been transported to the state crime lab for autopsies.

After the shooting, Brown said Beach left the residence on foot and walked about 200 yards before being apprehended by ACSO deputies. Beach was sent to a hospital in Jackson, where he was released at 11 a.m. Saturday and brought back to Natchez for questioning.

Before the shooting, deputies responded to a 911 call from the Quasar Street residence, requesting officers come to investigate a deer camera that Beach reportedly installed to surveil his wife. Brown said, deputies went to the house, recovered the game camera and then went to find Beach for questioning.

Brown said deputies were unable to locate Beach before they received a second 911 call “about an hour later” that said Beach was at the residence demanding to see his wife. Deputies were unable to return to the house before the shooting that resulted in Whittington and Haley’s deaths, Brown said.

Brown said the sheriff’s office has no record of any complaints filed against Beach by his wife or any other person, before Friday’s shooting. Brown said Beach’s wife has since come forward with information about the relationship before the shooting. Beach and his wife were separated and ending their marriage.

On Sunday, Maher also issued three no-contact orders during Beach’s initial court appearance, restricting Beach from having any contact with his wife and three children and the family members of Whittington and Haley.

Maher also appointed attorney Paul Sullivan to represent Beach and set a preliminary hearing for March 12.