A man who shot at Adams County deputies Sunday morning has been identified.
According to the Natchez Democrat, Charoyd Henrence Bell, 43, was fatally shot when the deputies returned fire. Sheriff Travis Patten said it started when two deputies were patrolling Old Highway 84 Sunday morning and one was flagged down by a woman who needed help.
The woman, who had a visible wound on her forehead, told deputies she had been kidnapped and assaulted by Bell, whom she has dated off and on.
Patten told the Democrat that as the deputy spoke with the victim, Bell approached and began to argue with the victim again, but was sent back into the yard so the discussion with the victim could continue. During this time, Bell ended up on his porch and a second deputy arrived and joined the discussion with the victim.
“At approximately 10:09 a.m., deputies called out shots fired over their portable radios,” Patten told the Democrat. “The suspect had grabbed a hand gun, pointed at the victim who was standing next to both deputies and started shooting at the victim from his yard as he ran toward the victim and our deputies.”
Bell began to advance as he shot at the victim and the deputies, who had taken cover behind the patrol cars, according to Patten. The deputies returned fire.
Once Bell’s gun was confiscated, the scene was considered secure and EMS crews arrived to work with the victim.
The victim was injured but is expected to recover. Both deputies were uninjured.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is handling the case, which is routine for line-of-duty shootings.
“Per our policy, both deputies involved in this shooting were put on paid administrative leave until the investigation is completed. The FBI was also contacted and asked to provide PEER support to the entire staff that was involved in any capacity with this incident and they have agreed to do so,” Patten told the Democrat.
After the situation, it was learned that there had been a call Saturday to the same address, but both parties had said everything was fine.
Bell pleaded guilty to charges of dogfighting, stealing dogs and possession of stolen property in 2018, according to the Democrat. He has also been arrested in Vidalia and Concordia Parish, Louisiana, for attempted burglary and burglary charges, possession of drugs and domestic violence.