Mississippi cop suspended for killing three in crash while chasing suspect
- William Langham, a police officer, was involved in a high-speed chase on January 4 that ended tragically in a crash.
- The crash resulted in the deaths of three people, including an SUV driver and two passengers in a pickup truck.
- Langham has been suspended without pay, pending an investigation, as questions arise about the danger of police pursuits.
In Byhalia, Mississippi, on January 4, 2025, a police officer named William Langham initiated a pursuit of a suspect driving an SUV. This chase extended beyond the city limits and eventually resulted in a tragic crash that claimed the lives of three individuals. The driver of the SUV, Jaqua Bluiett, aged 30, along with Angela Davis, aged 43, who was driving a pickup truck, and her passenger, Michael Crutcher, aged 63, were all killed in the collision. One other passenger from the truck sustained injuries. In the aftermath of the incident, Langham has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that his actions were lawful and adherent to department policies. His attorney, Michael Carr, has stated that evidence would support the claim that Langham did not engage in any illegal conduct during the pursuit, asserting the officer's right to clear his name. A suspension without pay was voted on by the aldermen of Byhalia while the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office conducts an ongoing investigation into the matter. Concerns have been raised about the appropriateness of high-speed chases, particularly on narrow country roads, which some community members felt posed unnecessary risks to public safety. A local resident, Taderio Woods, recounted hearing the crash, describing the excitement and desperation to extinguish flames emanating from the overturned vehicle. The events have ignited discussions regarding police pursuit policies and the implications of such high-stakes interventions on community safety and officer accountability.