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Two Mississippi police officers were shot Thursday morning, one fatally, during a hostage situation that turned into a standoff.
Randy Tyler, a retired Ridgeland police chief who has worked with the Madison Police Department for seven years, was shot and killed at about 9:30 a.m. after hours of negotiations and tense waiting, WLBT reported.
A Brandon Police officer was wounded in an exchange of gunfire at about 6 a.m. and was said to have received “significant injuries.” He was listed in stable condition.
Brandon police said the incident began shortly before 1:30 a.m.
“At approximately 1:20 this morning, Brandon Police Department got phone calls about a subject trying to enter a home with two females,” Chief Wayne Dearman said. “They stated that he had a bullet-proof vest, handgun, and a rifle.”
Officer found the man barricaded inside the home, in the Crossgates neighborhood, with one of the women. The other had been able to escape. The man, identified as 22-year-old Gabriel Matthew Wilson, later let the second woman go when police delivered the water and glue sticks he asked for.
“We did get some compromise from him, and as we gave him what he asked for, she was able to run out,” Dearman said. “She was checked out. She was uninjured.”
Wilson was killed in the exchange of gunfire that killed Tyler, WAPT said.
Tyler was part of Madison PD’s special response team and oversaw recruit training. He was also a supervisor in the narcotics unit.
“Randy will be sorely missed by all of his colleagues, family and friends. The Madison Police Department asks for the community’s support and prayers during this difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be provided once they have been finalized,” the department said in a Facebook post.
Multiple agencies responded to assist with the situation. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting.
[Featured image: Randy Tyler/Madison Police Department]
