Mississippi Shooting: 8 including deputy sheriff killed; suspect arrested

Brookhaven (US): In a shocking incident, eight people, including a deputy sheriff, were killed after a man opened fire in Lincoln County in the US state of Mississippi on Sunday.

According to the local police sources, the suspect has been identified as Cory Godbolt, 35, and has also been nabbed. The charges against the suspect are being frame, added the source.

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Warren Strain said the shootings took place at three separate residences on Saturday night in the rural Lincoln County.

The sheriff's deputy, who lost his life in the shooting, was responding to a distress call when he sustained bullet shot, said the media reports.

The officials have claimed that it was too early to reveal the intention behind the shooting. The suspect Godbolt, however, has claimed in a video film released by a local media house that he was willing to evade arrest by committing 'suicide by cop'.

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The suspect was reportedly talking over the phone with his wife and members of her family about the custody of their children when somebody informed the police. The arrival of the police, apparently irked Godbolt and he broke out firing during which he also assassinated the sheriff's deputy.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant in his official statement after the incident described it as a "senseless tragedy" and condoled the "sacrifice" of the law enforcement officers who were trying to protect and serve their communities.

"Every day, the men and women who wear the badge make some measure of sacrifice to protect and serve their communities. Too often, we lose one of our finest. I thank the law enforcement agencies involved for their hard work," Bryant wrote in a Facebook post.