Man shot by police was suspect in overnight carjacking, shooting and recently released from prison
Published 9:05 am Tuesday, July 2, 2019
A convicted Mississippi burglar was reportedly shot by a police officer in Southwest Mississippi early Tuesday after the man allegedly carjacked and shot a woman in Louisiana and fled back to Mississippi.
The suspect identified as Gerry Byrd, 28, walked into a convenience store in Woodville holding a gun at approximately 2:50 a.m. Tuesday. He was shot a short time later by a Woodville police officer, several media outlets reported.
The police-officer-involved shooting is under investigation by multiple state agencies, WLBT-TV reported.
Byrd is the suspect in a carjacking and shooting of a woman he was riding in a car with. The woman was found along the interstate.
Police said the officer was not injured and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will help lead the investigation. Byrd was apparently recently released from prison in Mississippi after a 2013 conviction for burglary in Adams County, Mississippi. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, but was apparently released recently. Police reported Byrd was wearing an ankle monitor device at time of shooting.
The extent of Byrd’s injuries were not immediately known. He was airlifted from the scene and taken to a Baton Rouge hospital. Charges are pending, police said.
This story is still developing. We will update it as more information is released.