Authorities have increased the reward amount in the search for a murder suspect who allegedly killed his girlfriend before shooting and wounding a jogger in Rankin County.
A nationwide manhunt continues for 28-year-old Alex Bridges Deaton and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation on Monday said the reward amount had been increased to $22,500 after the initial $2,500 amount yielded no tips leading to Deaton’s capture.
Authorities said on Friday the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a woman early Friday morning saying she had been shot in the thigh while jogging along Castlewood’s Boulevard in Rankin County. The victim said a white male with facial hair driving a small white SUV shot her from the driver’s window.
Less than an hour before the shooting, deputies responded to a call at Vineyard Apartments where Deaton’s 30-year-old girlfriend was found dead inside the apartment with her white 2012 GMC Acadia SUV missing.
Deaton is described as a white male, five feet, nine inches tall, weighing 170 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair. He is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
MBI said in a release if anyone comes in contact with Deaton they should not attempt to engage him but contact authorities via 911, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department at 601-825-1480, Crime Stoppers 601-355-8477, or Crime Stoppers on-line at www.P3tips.com.