Lynn Fitch Declares Justified Use of Force in Five Mississippi Shootings
- Law enforcement officers in Mississippi were involved in five justified shootings from 2021 to 2023.
- One of these incidents involved an escaped inmate, Dylan Arrington, who barricaded himself and exchanged gunfire with officers.
- The findings confirm the use of force was necessary, reflecting ongoing issues around policing and public safety concerns.
From 2021 to 2023, law enforcement officers in Mississippi engaged in five separate shooting incidents where the use of force was deemed justified. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation conducted thorough examinations of each shooting, with Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office providing a subsequent review of the findings. One significant incident occurred on April 26, 2023, involving escaped inmate Dylan Arrington, who barricaded himself in a home and eventually exchanged gunfire with officers before setting the house ablaze, resulting in his death. Other incidents included events in Waynesboro in November 2021, Horn Lake in April 2022, Southaven in March 2023, and Columbia in May 2023, implicating various law enforcement agencies at different levels. This validation of officers' actions comes amid increasing scrutiny of police use of force across the country, highlighting the complex nature of law enforcement engagements and public safety concerns in Mississippi.