PORT GIBSON — Investigators are actively pursuing leads and looking for multiple suspects in the fatal shooting of Claiborne County Sheriff’s Deputy Terrian Bailey, Sheriff Edward Goods said Tuesday, as community leaders also begin calling for action on public safety.
Goods said the investigation is being handled by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and federal partners, while the sheriff’s office is following leads of its own.
When asked how many suspects investigators are seeking, Goods told WAPT he could not give a specific number but confirmed there was more than one shooter.
“There was more than one shooter,” Goods said.
Goods said investigators are working on paperwork related to the case and pursuing several leads but declined to provide additional details that could compromise the investigation.
He also said investigators are not ruling out any possibility regarding whether Bailey was specifically targeted.
“We’re not going to take anything off the table before it’s being targeted or whatever,” Goods told a reporter. “That’s why we want to take our time with this investigation.”
Goods said the circumstances were complicated by darkness, commotion and the number of unknown factors present when Bailey arrived at the scene.
Bailey was killed shortly after midnight Monday when deputies responded to a crowd at Michael Dean’s Convenience Store near Hermanville. According to MBI, deputies were attempting to disperse the crowd when gunfire was directed toward it.
A female bystander also was shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Goods said his department has historically tried to be proactive about large gatherings and maintains relationships with event promoters, but the county does not currently have an ordinance addressing such events.
“We try to be proactive,” Goods said. “It’s hard for us to enforce something that’s not in place.”
Following Bailey’s death, Goods is asking residents, event promoters and others to reconsider holding outdoor gatherings of this nature.
“We’re asking the public and we’re asking the promoters and everyone to be mindful that it’s time to stop the outside events,” Goods said. “Because it’s not safe for anyone at this point.”
Goods also expressed concern about people attending such gatherings with backpacks and asked the public to help prevent potentially dangerous events from taking place.
Meanwhile, a local business leader is calling for officials and community members to come together to address broader public safety concerns following Bailey’s death.
Casandra Holmes, a Claiborne County business owner, issued an open letter calling for an emergency community action meeting within seven days involving law enforcement, county and city officials, pastors, educators, business owners, parents, youth representatives and other community members.
Holmes said the meeting should focus on solutions, accountability, cooperation and prevention rather than assigning blame.
Among the issues she wants officials and residents to address are violence prevention, cooperation between law enforcement and residents, youth mentorship and employment, parental involvement, church and community outreach, conflict resolution, community policing and citizen responsibility.
She also called for the creation of a permanent community action coalition and specific 30-, 60- and 90-day goals following the meeting.
“Now, our grief must be followed by action,” Holmes wrote.
Holmes said the community cannot wait for another law enforcement officer or another young person to die before addressing public safety concerns.
The investigation into Bailey’s killing remains active. The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-442-5001. Anonymous tips may be eligible for a cash reward leading to an arrest and conviction.
The FBI previously announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
MBI is investigating the shooting and will provide its findings to the local District Attorney’s Office and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office when the investigation is complete.
