The case stems from a Monday traffic stop in Mount Olive that left Deputy Yates Rodney hospitalized.
COVINGTON COUNTY, Miss. — Two teen brothers accused of shooting a Covington County deputy during a traffic stop were denied bond Wednesday on attempted capital murder charges after appearing in justice court.
Cortavion Hobbs, 19, and Cortavious Hobbs, 18, were charged with two counts of attempted capital murder and hindering prosecution. A judge denied bond on the attempted capital murder counts and set $250,000 bonds for each suspect on the hindering prosecution charge. Cortavion Hobbs also received a $250,000 bond on a felony fleeing charge.
The hearing followed a fast-moving case that began Monday afternoon in Mount Olive. Covington County Sheriff Darrell Perkins said Deputy Yates Rodney tried to stop a blue SUV after seeing the driver was not wearing a seat belt. During the stop, Rodney saw suspected narcotics and contraband inside the vehicle, authorities said. The SUV then fled down Main Street and turned onto Fourth Street near the Mount Olive Post Office and Cash Saver Grocery Store.
Authorities said the SUV became stuck, and Rodney ordered the people inside to get out and raise their hands. Another deputy, Austin Riels, arrived to help. Investigators said one suspect who had been on the ground got up and shot Rodney. Riels returned fire, and the brothers ran from the scene on foot. Rodney was struck near the shoulder and under his arm, above his vest.
The shooting set off a 10-hour manhunt involving local, state and federal officers. Agencies searched wooded areas with drones and K-9 teams. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety said the brothers were taken into custody around 1 a.m. Tuesday after they were found under a home in the Mount Olive area. Authorities said the homeowner contacted law enforcement after discovering them under the residence.
Rodney was taken to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Officials first described his injury as life-threatening but later said he was stable. Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson, who knows Rodney’s family, said Rodney was paralyzed from the waist down after a bullet entered his spinal column. “He asked me to ask everyone out there to pray that he would walk again,” Gipson said.
The case also included an early error in the statewide Blue Alert. ZyKerian Magee, 19, was initially named as a suspect but later cleared. Magee said he was in Magee, Mississippi, at the time of the shooting. Covington County Chief Deputy Rickey Lott said Magee was mistakenly identified after his name came up as a lead. Magee turned himself in and was released after speaking with investigators.
The brothers remain in custody as the case moves forward. Investigators have not announced additional charges. Rodney remains hospitalized, and court proceedings are expected to continue after the initial appearance.
Author note: Last updated June 11, 2026.