Lauderdale County, Miss. – A suspect is now in custody following a violent shooting on Christmas Eve that killed one individual and left two others injured in Lauderdale County, according to local law enforcement officials.
Sheriff Ward Calhoun reported that the incident, which occurred on the evening of December 24, involved gunfire at a residence on Northeast Cole Road. After the emergency call was received around 7:10 p.m., deputies quickly responded to the chaotic scene.
Upon their arrival, deputies found one victim already transported to a hospital by private vehicle, while a female victim required ambulance transportation after receiving initial treatment at the site. The third victim, found unresponsive, led to the involvement of Lauderdale County Coroner Stella McMahan.
The alleged perpetrator had fled the scene by the time law enforcement arrived, prompting a swift investigation and search effort by the deputies. Eventually, the suspect, identified as 50-year-old Joseph Spinks from Toomsuba, was located and arrested at a nearby residence on Welch Road around 9:30 p.m.
Spinks was subsequently charged with murder in the early hours of the following day and was detained at the Lauderdale County Detention Facility, where officials have yet to set a bond.
Sheriff Calhoun emphasized that the investigation remains active, with potential additional charges pending as more details become available. This ongoing case highlights the complexities and rapid developments often associated with serious crimes in smaller communities.
This tragic event has shaken the community of Lauderdale County, where violent crimes, particularly those resulting in fatalities, profoundly impact the small community. Local authorities are calling for anyone with additional information to come forward as they continue to piece together the events that led to this deadly shooting.
The impact on the local community cannot be understated, and as law enforcement continues to investigate, the hope is that justice will be swiftly served for the victims and their families.