ADAMS COUNTY, Mississippi — Two volunteer firefighters were shot Friday evening, killed while trying to protect the wife in an apparent domestic dispute, according to Magnolia State Live.
Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten told Magnolia that the firefighters, Jason Haley, 34, and Troy Whittington, 31, were shot as they tried to protect the estranged wife of the shooter until law enforcement arrived.
The suspect, Jonathan Beach, 36, has been charged with two counts of murder.
The shooting was the result of a domestic situation that began Friday evening. Deputies had responded to two calls at the residence prior to the shooting. The first call shortly after 10:00 p.m. was regarding deer cameras that were installed by Beach for surveillance of his wife and children. Beach was not at the home when deputies arrived, retrieved the cameras and made a report. The second call was an hour later saying Beach was at the residence and attempting to gain entry.
The firefighters, Haley and Wittington, were in the house with Beach’s wife and friends and confronted him, giving him verbal commands to leave the property. According to Patten, the firefighters were armed and had locked Beach’s wife and others in a bedroom while they waited for authorities to arrive.
Beach, also armed, entered the house. Gunfire erupted and ended with the two firefighters dead and Beach wounded. No one else was injured in the incident.
Deputies found Beach wandering away from the house, covered in blood and with a firearm in his hand.
Jason Haley was the fire chief of the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Department. Troy Whittington was the fire chief of the Lake Montrose Volunteer Fire Department. Their bodies were transported to the state crime lab for autopsies.
Additional
Two Mississippi volunteer firefighters killed attempting to quell domestic dispute, Magnolia State Live
Two men killed, one arrested in apparent domestic violence situation, The Natchez Democrat
2 volunteer firefighters shot, killed in Adam’s County, WLBT
