Additional Details to Saturday Night’s Officer-Involved Shooting

On Tuesday afternoon, The Real Story spoke to Columbus Police Chief Selvain McQueen about Saturday evening’s officer-involved shooting.  Chief McQueen offered little additional details and asked that the names of the officers not be released.  This is a traditional response to protect the officers and their families after an incredible stressful situation.   The Real Story will honor that request.

On Sunday, our website did offer the following information, after the events of Saturday night:

I just checked on the situation at Columbus Police Department. As expected, they are not releasing any information, at this time. The case has been turned over to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. This is not sinister. It is just the appropriate protocol used in every police officer-involved shooting at the CPD and LCSO.

They did confirm, what has already been released, that it occurred at the Dutch Village Shell Station and that both city and county officers were involved. They also confirmed that two people were transported to the hospital.

Police work is a dangerous job. Let’s keep these men and women in our prayers. They risk their lives every day!!

People close to the scene, including civilian witnesses, did report that the event started with a routine traffic stop, over loud music, which turned into a possible drug arrest situation.  The county narcotics agent, during his investigation, was placed in the position of being run over or possibly dragged by the suspect’s vehicle, as the suspect attempted to flee the scene.  Obviously, this was a life threatening situation and the city police officer did fire one shot.

Individuals close to the situation did report that the injuries to the narcotics agent and the suspect were minimal and details are sketchy at best on whether anyone was struck by the lone bullet.  However, it has been confirmed that two people were transported to the hospital.

The suspect, Marvin Kyles, has been charged with possession of marijuana more than one ounce, aggravated assault on a police officer and excessive or unreasonable noise.  The possession and aggravated assault charges are both felonies.

It has been reported that there was mass confusion at the scene; however, that is to be expected after such a traumatic event.  Both Chief Selvain McQueen and Sheriff Mike Arledge were at the scene and should be commended for taking control of the situation.

Hopefully, the names of the officers will be released and they will get the proper post- traumatic care.  Police shootings are unsettling for the entire department involved and shake the core of the organization.  Because of this, The Real Story will offer no dramatization of what occurred that night.

Photos from a citizen-journalist have been given to us and will be printed with this story.

As we stated earlier, law enforcement is a dangerous job.  Let’s keep our officers in our prayers.

JBS