Man wounded; shots fired at deputy in Monday morning drive-by

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

Local law enforcement is searching for three male suspects after a 
drive-by shooting early Monday morning resulted in one person being 
wounded and a deputy most likely having shots fired at him.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m. Monday when a drive-by shooting took 
place in the trailer park located behind Perfect Car Care. A man was 
wounded and taken to Wayne General Hospital. According to reports, he 
was transported to a Hattiesburg medical facility to be treated for his injuries.

According to Wayne County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Geoffery 
Clark, deputies and officers with the Waynesboro Police Department heard 
the shots and responded. WCSO Deputy Will Ladd got behind the vehicle 
involved in the shooting and pursued it.

The chase went along Hudson Drive and Spring Street before the car 
stopped on Gray Street.

During the chase, according to reports, a passenger door was opened and 
one of the suspects pointed a gun at the deputies' vehicle. Multiple 
loud pops were reported by the deputy, indicating that the suspect fired 
shots at the deputy and his vehicle.

The vehicle stopped on Gray Street and three suspects got out of the car 
and fled the area. According to Clark, all three suspects were carrying 
long rifles as they fled the scene.

Clark said the vehicle is a white four-door Kia. The car is suspected of 
having been used in previous drive-by shootings.

Since the incident happened within the city limits, it is thought that 
both the WCSO and the Waynesboro Police Department will be working the 
case.

Clark said the suspects were wearing black hoodies and other black 
colored attire. They are considered to be armed and dangerous. Clark 
said anyone who sees the suspects should call 9-1-1 immediately and not 
try to encounter the suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to call the WCSO or WPD.

The case is under investigation and other details could not be released 
as of the early press time for this newspaper.