Robbery turns into four-hour standoff at Mississippi Dollar General

Published 7:20 am Saturday, February 15, 2020

Authorities captured two men at Dollar General on North Jackson Street in Brookhaven Friday after a four-hour standoff involving multiple law enforcement agencies and first responders.

Police arrested Shawn Brooks, 47, Old Wesson Circle, at the scene around 5:30 a.m. Andre Rayshun Bridges, 36, East Chippewa Street, was arrested after Brookhaven police officers deployed gas canisters inside the store just after 7:30 a.m.

Police Chief Kenneth Collins said an alarm alerted police to the break in around 3:30 a.m. When officers arrived, the two masked men ran back into the building.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Brooks was caught behind a stack of merchandise in the receiving area of the store, he said. Bridges went up into the ceiling to hide.

“We’re going to have to do it section by section until we find him,” Collins said.

Collins said Brooks was not armed when he was captured, and he believed Bridges was unarmed as well.

The Special Response Team parked an armored vehicle at the door. Brookhaven Fire Department personnel and Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies assisted. Two EMTs with King’s Daughters Medical Center Ambulance stayed on the scene.

Collins said police borrowed two thermal imaging cameras from BFD and also used a drone from the sheriff’s office initially.

Key holders with the store arrived and discussed the situation with police. The two women went inside through the front glass door and came out together a few minutes later.

Officers could be seen through the front door searching through the store with a thermal imaging camera.

The one of the panes of the glass front door appears to be smashed, but not shattered. It’s not known if that occurred during the standoff.

Brooks faced charges for burglary of a business in September, according to police records. He allegedly burglarized Angels Attic.