Friends and fellow officers of a Jackson police officer shot in the line of duty Thursday are joining forces to help his family with the medical bills.
Officer Alan Mayes and another officer were ambushed as they searched a neighborhood for a suspect who ran from a traffic stop on Aug. 19. The suspect, Nathaniel Garner, had hidden on the porch of an abandoned house and opened fire on the officers with a semi-automatic rifle.
Mayes was taken from the scene to the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he underwent surgery. He was released the next day, but still has several months of recovery before he can return to work.
Police Chief James Davis said Thursday night that officers tried to stop a gray sedan that ran from them and they found it abandoned on the corner of Rondo Street and Erie Street.
That’s when the suspect ambushed the officers from the cover of the abandoned porch, Davis said. About 30 rounds from an AR-style weapon were found in the door of the car, Davis said, and Mayes was hit.
“Alan Mayes is a great guy. He loves this city, he’s in vice and narcotics and he loves serving the people of Jackson,” Davis said. “This officer was ambushed. This individual got out of his car and retreated to the porch of an abandoned house and he opened fire on these officers.”
Davis reflected the shock of the community.
“It’s unbelief to see those assault bullet holes into a police officer’s car. I see the unbelief in the the citizens, too. The citizens are upset,” Davis said. “It’s heartbreaking to see an officer out there trying to keep a community safe and you’ve got individuals — I call them thugs and cowards — that turn guns on the officers who are trying to keep their communities safe.”
As Davis ended the press conference, he said, “Alright, I’m fixing to go out here and help them search for this guy.”
