MDPS spokesman identifies person shot by deputies
August 22, 2012
By NATHAN GREGORY
sdnreporter@yahoo.com
Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain confirmed Damion Lavent Street, 33, of 581 Cannon Road, was killed by Oktibbeha County deputies Monday.
Deputies were dispatched to Cannon Road at 5:47 p.m. Monday after receiving a report of a man standing in the road and wielding a knife. Oktibbeha County Chief Deputy Chadd Garnett said two deputies were sent to the scene and were attacked after they approached the suspect. They tased and pepper sprayed on Street, but he continued to attack, allegedly stabbing one of the deputies multiple times.
Deputies then opened fire on Street, killing him.
Since the investigation was handed to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, Garnett would not comment on how many shots were fired or who fired them.
Strain said the MBI Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene and collected evidence for the state’s crime laboratory. An autopsy is pending, he said, and no other details were available at press time.
“We’re in the very preliminary stages,” Strain said. “Until we get reports back it would be premature to discuss any components of the investigation as it progresses.”
Garnett declined to identify the injured deputy but did confirm the deputy was out of surgery at OCH Regional Medical Center at approximately 2:15 a.m. Tuesday and was released later that morning.
OCSD Commander Brett Watson said no information is available at this time as to a motive behind Street’s actions.
“We’re not really 100 percent sure of the circumstances of why he was out here yet,” Watson said. “That’s part of what the MBI will be doing in the course of their investigation is taking statements from people who may have witnessed it or have knowledge of what happened before deputies arrived.”
